Cortland supports senior citizen housing effort

By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- City council has thrown its support to a Cincinnati-based company's effort to get financing to build a senior-citizen housing development.
Lawmakers passed a resolution Monday backing MV Communities Inc.'s application for tax credits from Ohio Housing Credits.
Denise Blake, an MV developer, informed council that the company has decided to back away, at least for now, from building 50 single-family houses for those of low income.
Blake explained that there is an excess of housing stock in Warren, thus decreasing the market for low-income housing in the area.
There will be 40 to 45 senior apartments.
MV has an option to buy 25 acres on the northeast corner of state Route 5 and Louis Avenue.
The senior housing would be rented rather than purchased. The buildings would house four and six two-bedroom apartments.
During questioning by Councilman James Woofter, who supports the project, Blake said that senior housing typically doesn't have children but nothing can be done to prevent them from living there.
The housing is for those age 55 and older. Construction would begin in the spring if financing is arranged.
Water-rate increase
In other business, council moved to a third reading a proposed 70 percent water rate increase to offset long-term capital improvements to the water system.
If the measure is improved, it would increase the rate from $1.88 per 1,000 gallons to $12.80 for the first 4,000 gallons, or $3.13 per 1,000 gallons, and $3.20 for each 1,000 after that.
Mayor Curt Moll said the rate will be higher than Niles customers pay and about the same as Warren's rate.
Councilwoman Deidre Petrosky said that the revenue is needed because of $4.5 million required for capital improvements in the water system, including a new storage tank, to offset a low pressure problem.
Petrosky noted that only the water portion will increase 70 percent. The sanitary sewer charge will remain the same.
When one resident asked whether the city was eligible for government grants to pay for the improvements, city Treasurer Frances Moyer explained that the city doesn't qualify because its water rate is too low.
But Moyer pointed out that not all the revenue from the rate increase will go toward the improvements. Some will be used for operations.
Study gets reading
Lawmakers also moved to a third reading the hiring of MS Consultants Inc. of Youngstown to study the water system. The cost will not exceed $22,200.
Petrosky said the consultant's work will include prioritizing capital improvements so the city can get the "most bang for its buck."
yovich@vindy.com