Officials grant funding to repave Mahoning Ave.

By Peter H. Milliken

An additional $225,000 was approved for the board of elections.

YOUNGSTOWN — The repaving of Mahoning Avenue in Austintown is set to begin Monday, and the contractor plans to do the work on two shifts to expedite the project, said Marilyn Kenner, chief deputy county engineer.

The Mahoning County commissioners awarded the $2,527,730 job Thursday to The Shelley Co. of Twinsburg, the lower of two bidders for the job. Shelley has 60 days to complete the work, weather permitting.

“We expect to finish it this year,” said Kenner, who urged motorists to avoid Mahoning Avenue, if possible, while the work is under way.

The project includes repaving about five miles of Mahoning Avenue from Meridian Road to Meander Reservoir, installation of handicapped-accessible curb ramps, repair of damaged curbs, and removal of an unused railroad crossing between Meridian and Four Mile Run roads.

Commissioners also approved an additional $225,000 from the county’s general fund for the board of elections for the cost of the presidential election. The general fund is the county’s main operating fund.

The extra money consists of $159,000 for payroll and benefits, $7,000 for supplies, $6,000 for printing, $45,000 for advertising and $8,000 for equipment maintenance.

The commissioners agreed to have the county’s recycling division be the financial reporting and oversight agent for a $250,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant for equipment to be installed at Recycle Management Inc.’s materials recovery facility on South State Line Road in Lowellville.

That facility, which will sort, bundle and ship recyclable materials, will open next year, said Mari Wren-Petrony, assistant county recycling division director.

Commissioners also accepted a $51,346 Ohio Department of Public Safety grant to the county sheriff’s department for high-visibility overtime traffic enforcement efforts, including speeding, seat belt law and anti-drunk-driving efforts.

The grant will put extra patrols on the road for peak times, such as Halloween and the Super Bowl, said Sgt. William Cappabianca.

The commissioners received from Robert Stuhlmiller, president of SANCORP Liner Technology in Alliance, 175 petition signatures against Jefferson Renewable Energy’s $250 million waste-burning power plant proposed for Smith Township.

Stuhlmiller said air pollution from that plant could contaminate his company’s plant, which produces food wrappers and pill-bottle inner seals. The signatures came from his employees and area residents, he said. “We don’t want them located anywhere near us,” he said of the power plant.

The next commissioners’ meeting will be at 5 p.m. next Thursday at Austintown Township Hall, 82 Ohltown Road.