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A committee recommends the city give $6,400 to a business for a fence with razor wire on top
YOUNGSTOWN
A city committee recommends the board of control approve $6,400 to a South Side business for an 8-foot-high concrete-block fence with razor wire on top.
The Youngstown Initiative Committee voted Monday to recommend using city money for the fence at American Farms Produce II Inc., 87 Brooklyn Ave. The final decision rests with the board of control, which will consider the request next month.
The fence will cost $16,000 and would be at the rear of the property, said Chris Herubin, American Farms president.
The wholesale produce-distribution business has experienced several thefts, particularly batteries from company trucks, and vandalism, and the fence is needed to keep the company at its current location, Herubin said.
The company employs 15 full-time workers and three part-timers.
It’s appropriate for the city to provide money for the fence with razor wire in order to keep the business from possibly leaving Youngstown, said city Law Director Anthony Farris, an initiative committee member.
The city’s Design Review Committee approved the design of American Farms’ fence request at its Sept. 3 meeting.
At that meeting, Herubin said a chain-link fence would be a waste of money because criminals would cut through it.
The last business to get approval for a fence with razor wire on top was Ludt’s Towing on Wilson Avenue about eight or nine years ago, city officials have said.
The initiative committee postponed a vote Monday on a request to give $18,224 in city money toward a proposal to put three LED (light-emitting diode) electronic signs on a building at 2930 Market St. The project also includes new siding and awnings with a total cost of $45,560.
The signs would promote upcoming boxing, martial arts and mixed martial arts pay-per-view programs.
Some committee members expressed concern about the signs being a distraction to motorists, and wanted to check if the signs are in compliance with Ohio law as Market Street is a state route.