City, Girard officials continue to work on resolving land issue

Officials from the two municipalities have planned to meet this afternoon.

YOUNGSTOWN — Mayor Jay Williams said Youngstown and Girard officials “have a shared goal” of resolving a land issue for a V&M Star Steel expansion by Friday’s deadline.

Officials from both communities said the company has told them that the property issue needs to be settled by then, or V&M will look elsewhere for a location for its potential $970 million expansion project.

Officials have said the company wants the 80-acre local expansion site, currently located in Girard but owned by Youngstown, to become a part of Youngstown.

Girard officials met among themselves Saturday, and city council there has indicated it favors the transfer of the property to Youngstown to keep the project alive. Mayor James Melfi has expressed reluctance to allowing the land to be annexed. Telephone calls to Melfi after that meeting weren’t immediately returned, and council members have declined to discuss what, if anything, was resolved.

They did say that Girard officials would meet with Youngstown officials sometime this afternoon, and Williams confirmed that meeting but declined to reveal a time or place. He said he didn’t know how many Girard people would be attending.

Charles Sammarone, Youngstown City Council president, said Sunday night that he didn’t know the time or location of the meeting yet, but that Youngstown council members can attend if they wish. They don’t have to be there, as council’s position is already clear, he said.

“We support the mayor and the administration’s direction in the project,” he said.

Williams said the two municipalities want to arrive at an arrangement that benefits both communities as well as the company.

Youngstown paid about $5 million for the 80-acre parcel, and V&M has agreed to buy it from the city.

The site is contaminated, and Youngstown has accepted responsibility for cleaning it up, a project that will cost another $5 million.

The city is hoping the state funds that work.

The V&M expansion, if it moves forward, would create about 400 jobs with annual salaries of $60,000 to $70,000, Williams has said.

gwin@vindy.com