Commissioners OK street improvements

Drug take-back drive is today at the Austintown police station.

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners have approved agreements with local communities for $404,300 worth of street improvements and sidewalk installations funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

The projects are: $115,000 in new curb and sidewalk installations in Lowellville; $70,400 in street improvements in the Woodworth area of Beaver Township; $71,400 for installation of Ohio Drive, which is a new street designed to improve emergency-vehicle access in Milton Township; $98,500 for installation of new sidewalks on Raccoon Road to be used by students at the new Austintown Middle School; and $49,000 for improvements to Reed Avenue and 13th Street in Campbell.

The federal money for these projects, which will be constructed this year, passes to the county through the Ohio Department of Development, Office of Housing and Community Partnerships, said Annemarie DeAscentis, the county’s grants fiscal manager.

At their Tuesday meeting, the commissioners also heard Jim Petuch, county recycling director, and Austintown Police Chief Robert Gavalier promote a pharmaceutical take-back program from noon to 3 p.m. today, July 29 and Aug. 26 at the Austintown Police Station, 92 Ohltown Road.

County residents may drop off outdated or unneeded legal drugs in plastic or glass bottles or sturdy plastic bags. The drugs will be burned in an infectious-waste incinerator, Petuch said. No syringes or needles will be accepted. Businesses may not participate.

The program’s goal is to prevent drug abuse and to keep drugs and the chemicals within them from being poured down sink drains and flushed down toilets and contaminating the environment, Petuch said.

Another recycling division drive will collect electronic items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 11 at the Southside Annex, 2801 Market St.

Yet another drive will collect tires from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 18 at the Covelli Centre, 229 E. Front St.