Youngstown council approves online water bill payments

YOUNGSTOWN

City council has authorized the board of control to sign contracts to allow city water customers to pay their bills online beginning in October, and voted to place a charter amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot to eliminate the park and recreation commission, and to forward to the Mahoning County Board of Elections the language for an anti-fracking charter amendment that comes from a citizens’ initiative.

The elections board must certify the validity of the petitions before the initiative goes on the November ballot.

Also today, council agreed to increase the demolition budget by $250,000 to cover the cost of taking down vacant houses.

The city has demolished 293 houses this year with plans for 209 more to come down.

The city needs the $250,000 to help with the demolition of some of the houses that are currently standing.

The $250,000 comes from the $590,517.60 check the city received from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation as part of a rebate from the state.

Besides this $250,000, the city is spending about $2.3 million on housing demolition this year.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com