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Hubbard hires firm for infrastructure
By Danny restivo
Hubbard
The city is using a new asset in its effort to improve an aging infrastructure.
Hubbard officials have hired CT Consultants, an engineering firm in Youngstown that specializes in municipal engineering, said city services director Dan Livingston.
While CT specializes in various city improvement projects, Livingston believes CT’s ability to find state and federal grants for publicly funded projects will lift some burdens off the taxpayer.
“They have people that know how to get the money,” said Livingston. “We don’t have the people or the expertise to find those grants.”
With a 150 engineers who specialize in various municipal services, CT can assess how a project is completed in the most cost-efficient manner for the city, said CT Consultants vice president Richard J. Iafelice. He said the firm started working with the city last week, and together, they will determine city needs before any grants are sought.
“Right now, we are just getting our feet wet,” said Iafelice. “We need to figure out the project before the funding comes in.”
The firm has engineers who have backgrounds in environmental, construction, transportation and other fields that are essential to city operations, said Iafelice.
The city has a one-year contract at $1,250 a month for CT’s service, said Livingston. He believes the benefit of contracting outside engineers to concentrate on specialized problems is great for a city concerned with finances.
“We’re in a ‘break and fix’ mode right now,” said Livingston. He said the current city engineers are tasked with operating the day-to day jobs, but they don’t have the time or resources to tackle some of the city’s critical needs.
“It’s the idea of being able to pick up the phone and call ... and get some answers,” said Livingston.
Although city officials and CT haven’t prioritized what needs will come first, he believes an improvement in the sewer system will be at the top of the list.