Officials back Coitsville U.S. 422 initiative

By Peter H. Milliken

Ohio should cash in on Pennsylvania racino traffic, officials say.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners have unanimously endorsed an initiative of the Coitsville Township trustees for a U.S. Route 422 economic development strategy, in anticipation of construction of the Valley View Downs racetrack and casino just across the Pennsylvania line.

Also collaborating in this effort will be Youngstown, Campbell, CASTLO, the Regional Chamber, the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, and Youngstown State University’s Center for Urban and Regional Studies.

Anthony T. Traficanti, chairman of the county commissioners, said Thursday he envisions stores, restaurants and hotels along U.S. Route 422 (McCartney Road), which will be the main route to the proposed Lawrence County racino complex.

To promote development, Traficanti said his goal is to extend public water and sewer lines from where they currently end near the Youngstown city limits to the Ohio-Pennyslvania line.

“For too long, I believe the East Side of Youngstown has been ignored. I think the spinoff with development along that corridor will be wonderful for that portion of Mahoning County,” Traficanti said.

“It’s a great project,” said Commissioner David N. Ludt.

“You’re going to have a stretch of road, probably six miles long, that is in Mahoning County leading out that way,” observed Commissioner John A. McNally IV, noting that the racino will be only about eight miles from downtown Youngstown. “There are going to be a lot of jobs available,” including construction jobs, he added.

Concerning another matter, Traficanti and McNally said they’re willing to return the Western Reserve Transit Authority sales tax proposal to the ballot in November. A proposed quarter percent countywide sales tax for WRTA failed in the March primary.

“I’m not going to have a problem putting it back on to see what the voters of Mahoning County want to do,” McNally said. The deadline for placing the levy on the November ballot is in late August.

“Transportation is needed in the community,” especially as fuel prices skyrocket, Traficanti said.

However, he said WRTA needs to promote the levy countywide and present a proposal showing an expanded countywide bus routing plan to the public.

Employers adversely affected by bus service cuts need to help the transit authority promote the countywide levy, McNally said.

Terrance Esarco, of East Midlothian Boulevard, said WRTA bus service cutbacks due to budget shortfalls have cost many public transit-dependent commuters their jobs.

Judee L. Genetin, acting director of the county’s Department of Job and Family Services, said JFS is working with the transit authority on grant applications for local transit service, which are designed to increase bus ridership and possibly restore some recent service cutbacks.

The commissioners also approved a $10,500 agreement with Shallow Creek Kennels for supplying and training a police dog and training its handler for the county sheriff’s department. Sgt. Thomas E. DeGenova of the sheriff’s department said the department is initiating its canine unit and that the dog will be trained for drug detection and search and rescue operations.

The commissioners voted to close Sharrott Road between Calla and Middletown roads in Beaver Township for about 11 days beginning Monday for a culvert replacement.

The commissioners’ next meeting will be at 10 a.m. next Thursday in the county courthouse basement.