Council likely to OK deal for company

By David Skolnick

YOUNGSTOWN — City council is expected to approve an economic incentive package today for a company planning to invest $1.7 million and employ five to 10 people.

As part of the deal, the city would sell 7.5 acres of property at the Ohio Works Business Park, near Division Street, for about $10 to North Star Disposal Services, said T. Sharon Woodberry, Youngstown’s economic development director.

North Star’s business would take wastewater from industrial businesses, treat it to remove metals and then discharge the cleaned wastewater into the city’s sewer system, Woodberry said.

Ben Lupo, North Star’s owner, couldn’t be reached Tuesday by The Vindicator to comment.

Lupo also owns D&L Energy Group, a company that drills oil and gas wells in Ohio and Pennsylvania. D&L is in the city’s Salt Springs Business Park.

There isn’t space in the Salt Springs Business Park for the North Star proposal, Woodberry said.

If council approves the ordinance today, city economic development officials would negotiate the terms of a development agreement with North Star.

Besides the land sale, the incentive package would also include a 75-percent, 10-year real property tax abatement for the company.

The deal will be finalized in the next two months, Woodberry said.

North Star would spend $1.7 million for construction of the facility that would take about a year to build, Woodberry said.

Once operating, the company would employ five to 10 people.

After the 7.5 acres are sold, the Ohio Works Business Park will have 22.5 acres left for development, Woodberry said.

skolnick@vindy.com