Industry has eye on city

The new business would provide 15 jobs immediately, and more over time.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

STRUTHERS — A national company is considering moving its Mogadore and Cleveland operations to the Tri-County Sports indoor soccer complex off Poland Avenue.

Mayor Daniel Mamula said at Wednesday’s council meeting that city officials have been meeting with Alex Simon, owner of Simon Roofing and Sheet Metal and the Tri-County Sports complex, since last fall to discuss the company’s plans to relocate in the city.

Mamula said the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corporation and the city are working with Simon on a financial package. The mayor is proposing to loan Simon $160,000 from the city’s revolving loan fund for the project. Mamula did not reveal the total cost of the project.

Mamula said the new business would provide 15 jobs, immediately, and more in time.

Simon, who Mamula said is a Mahoning Valley native, has informed the city that architectural drawings to convert the soccer building for use as a manufacturing facility are complete, and the company is moving forward with the permitting process, the mayor said.

The mayor said lending money to Simon will not only help entice the business into the city, it will help preserve the loan fund, which now has loan balances of about $169,000. If money isn’t lent out and paid back with interest, but used only for projects such as street repairs, the money will be spent down and nothing will be available for loans, he said.

The mayor said the business is a longtime commercial/industrial roofer and sheet metal company, which has branched from service into manufacturing.

“We’re moving forward on the project and hope to be able to welcome a new business to the city that has growth potential,” the mayor said.

Other council actions

In other action Wednesday, Councilman at-Large Jerry Shields said he plans to introduce at the June 12 meeting legislation creating a storm water management fund and fees for various sizes and types of properties. The purpose is to alleviate flooding through construction, operation and maintenance of facilities; storm water monitoring; and creating water pollution control programs, Shields said.

Shields, chairman of council’s finance committee, said the city’s storm water management plan and accompanying fund are mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Clean Water Act.

Mamula said that under the fee schedule he has proposed, 95 percent of the city’s residents would pay a base rate of $3.50 a month and would see a deduction in their sewer bills because of the elimination of a $6.50 surcharge for debt, which has been paid off.

Other fees proposed by Mamula, which range from $3.50 to $28 per month, include: Single-family dwelling properties up to 3,500 square feet, $3.50; multi-unit residential, $7; single-unit commercial, $10.50; multi-unit commercial, $14; institutional A, $17.50; institutional B, $21; industrial A, $24.50; and industrial B, $28. Where the amount of impervious surface differs from the use classification, the amount of impervious surface will determine the fee, Mamula said.

alcorn@vindy.com