Man hired to complete MetroParks master plan

The commission approved pacts to create master plans for two townships.

WARREN — The Trumbull County Planning Commission has hired a Cuyahoga Falls man to complete a master plan for the county’s MetroParks.

Jonathan Millea will serve as planner II, at a salary of $31,881, said Alan Knapp, commission director.

The commission advertised the position as a recreation coordinator at a salary of at least $38,528, but none of the applicants under consideration had full-time planning experience, Knapp said, and he decided to lower the job to planner II.

Millea, who begins work July 2, graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in geography in May 2005 and earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Akron last month.

He worked as an intern in the Medina County Department of Planning Services from September 2005 through last month, and worked as a real estate agent from March 2003 through May 2005.

What he’ll do

The planning commission agreed at a meeting last month to advertise for the position to plan for the use of 932 acres acquired by the MetroParks board, including 879 that has been acquired in the past four years, much of it along the Mahoning River.

Knapp said the master plan will address the opportunity to develop a canoe trail along the river and further develop the county’s bike trails.

Millea also will spend part of his time working on general planning commission assignments. His salary this year will come from $20,000 being paid by the MetroParks for the master plan and money being paid by Bazetta and Vienna townships for master plans that they need to have done.

In addition to the parks plan, Millea also will work on the Bazetta and Vienna master plans along with another commission staff member, Knapp said.

The commission approved agreements with Bazetta and Vienna townships to create the master plans. Bazetta will pay $15,000 for its first-ever master plan, and Vienna will pay $10,000 for an update to the one created in 1991. Master plans update the township zoning map and address development options.