Funding OK'd for property purchase

The university already owns more than 85 percent of the properties in the area.
By MARC KOVAC
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- The state approved funding for Youngstown State University to purchase parcels totaling more than an acre as part of an effort to redevelop blighted areas around campus.
The state controlling board, without comment, agreed to release about 47,000 for the properties, including:
A total of 0.11 acre on Custer Avenue, owned by Donna Jean Rezek and Randall C. Rezek, at a cost of 23,000.
About 0.17 acre on Harrison Street that is owned by the estate of Richard Chislom, 10,600.
A lot with 0.14 acre of space on North Walnut Street, owned by Early J. Cooper, 8,400.
Two lots, totaling 0.9 acre, on East Adams Street, owned by Clara Ann Barbato, 4,975.
The property owned by the Rezeks will be used to expand a YSU athletics field, according to documents.
The other three are part of the Smoky Hollow Redevelopment Plan, an initiative involving YSU, the city and a private foundation to replace blighted areas around campus with new homes.
New surface parking and a new business college building also are part of YSU's redevelopment plans in the vicinity, according to documents. The university already owns more than 85 percent of the properties in the area and is purchasing lots from willing owners.
The purchase prices were in line with appraisals, according to documents.
Funds for Castlo assessment
In other business, the board approved the release of 188,936 in Clean Ohio Assistance funding for an environmental assessment on the Castlo Industrial Park-West property in Struthers.
According to state documents, the property includes a little more than 61 acres along the southern bank of the Mahoning River. An initial assessment identified environmental concerns, and the next phase of the study will include the installation of monitoring wells, soil borings and other data sampling and evaluation.
Industrial Timber and Land is in negotiations with the city of Struthers for a 5 million expansion at the site, pending the findings of the study and the remediation of any environmental issues.
Also Monday, board members approved the release of an additional 226,365 for restroom renovations at the Job and Family Services building on South Avenue in Youngstown. Contracts awarded as part of the project included:
General contract, 70,000: ATEC Construction Inc., 29 Overhill Road, Boardman.
Total mechanical contract, 115,591: Western Reserve Mechanical Inc., 3041 S. Main Street, Niles.
Electrical contract, 14,600: Santon Electric Co. Inc., 7870 Southern Boulevard, Youngstown.
State Architect's Fees, 6,173.37, and contingency fees of 20,000.63.
Public TV equipment
Additionally, the Controlling Board agreed to release 672,592 for the purchase of equipment for eTech Ohio Commission's eight affiliated public television stations, including WNEO in Youngstown. The media servers will be purchased from Omneon Video Networks Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif.
Earlier legislation included 1.31 million to support capital projects for public broadcasting, with 720,000 set aside for servers at affiliate locations. The systems will accommodate television programming and content sharing among the stations, according to documents.
mkovac@dixcom.com