43
Panel lauds warm up in U.S.-Cuba relations
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning County commissioners spontaneously lauded the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
“Russia and China already have access to those markets” for Cuban goods, said Commissioner Anthony Traficanti at the panel’s Thursday meeting.
“Normalizing those relations and having an exchange of products and ideas and opening up the tourism would be something we should do,” he said.
“It’s only 90 miles off the coast of Florida,” he said of Cuba. “I’d like to take a vacation down there and see Havana and maybe try out one of those cigars and some of that good rum.”
Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti said she is glad to see talks toward normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations, which was announced Wednesday. “It was a long process to get to this point. I think it’s time for us to start talking about the transition,” she added.
“I echo the sentiments of my colleagues,” said David Ditzler, board chairman. “I think that communication is something that’s needed with everyone, whether we’re talking to our wives or kids or different countries. You never move in a positive direction unless everyone’s at the table communicating.”
In their business portion, the commissioners approved the purchase of a new $364,616 storm-sewer cleaning truck for the county engineer’s office from Jack Doheny Supplies Ohio Inc. of Twinsburg through the state purchasing cooperative.
They also approved the purchase of four unmarked used cars for a total of $48,300 from Donnell Ford of Boardman for use by sheriff’s office detectives and process servers. “They’re going to replace our very-aging fleet of unmarked vehicles,” Sgt. Thomas DeGenova told the commissioners.
Dennis O’Hara, county emergency management director, provided seasonal safety advice, including checking smoke-detector batteries twice a year, having a battery-powered carbon-monoxide detector, keeping a live Christmas tree watered, removing it from the house immediately after Christmas to reduce fire risk from dry needles and making sure home exit doors are not blocked.
O’Hara also advised not leaving burning candles unattended and not using a generator indoors, even on an enclosed porch with open windows, to avoid carbon-monoxide buildup.
He also recommended having an emergency supply kit containing a gallon of bottled water per person, canned food, manual can and bottle openers, extra batteries, a weather-alert radio and extra blankets in case of a major snowstorm.
“You just may not be able to get out, and that was proven in Buffalo,” where 7 feet of snow fell last month, he said.