Mahoning officials give grant for rib burn-off at park

April 27, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

By Peter H. MILLIKEN

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County commissioners have made a $2,000 sponsorship grant on behalf of the county convention and visitors’ bureau to a rib burn-off set for May 18-20 in Mill Creek Park’s James L. Wick Recreation Area.

The three-day event will feature six nationally known, professional championship barbecue- cooking teams, arts-and-crafts booths, activities for children and families during the daytime and live music for the over-21 crowd during the evenings.

Park officials said event proceeds will benefit construction of a new children’s play area at the Wick Recreation Area, which is off McCollum Road on the city’s West Side. The park is charging vendors $225 for a 10-by-10-foot booth at the event.

“We’re expecting large crowds, not just from this area, but from surrounding areas coming into town for that,” said Phil Moore, county CVB director.

The county’s sponsorship is coming from its hotel and motel bed-tax revenues.

Also Thursday, the commissioners accepted an Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant for the county sheriff’s annual summertime Berlin Reservoir boat patrol. The state will pay $21,846, and the county will provide a $7,282 share.

The commissioners also agreed to close Silica Road between state Route 45 and Lipkey Road in Jackson Township between Tuesday and next Friday to replace three culverts, and to close Coit Road between state Route 616 and New Castle Road in Coitsville and Poland townships from May 8-11 to replace two culverts.

The commissioners also awarded Thomas Fok & Associates the $96,093 engineering-design contract for the reconstruction of Crum Road in Austintown.