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Mahoning commissioners OK spending more than $6M for host of projects
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning County commissioners approved either new borrowing or refinancing of previous debt totaling up to more than $6 million for a host of projects, including water-supply and sanitary-sewer installations and a new dog shelter.
The commissioners approved the issuance and sale of bonds for up to $1,015,000 for renovations to the new dog shelter building at 1230 N. Meridian Road in Austintown and up to $760,000 for renovations and improvements at Oakhill Renaissance Place, including acquisition of a new generator.
Only the dog shelter and Oakhill represent new debt being incurred.
For the dog shelter, the county also will seek private donations, which David Ditzler, chairman of the commissioners, said he hopes can pay at least half the renovation cost.
Architect Tracie Kaglic of Olsavsky-Jaminet Architects, which is working on the dog shelter project design, said the firm hasn’t yet determined a renovation cost estimate.
For projects in Milton Township, the commissioners approved the issuance of notes in anticipation of bonds for up to $390,000 worth of water-supply lines and up to $575,000 worth of sanitary-sewer lines and related improvements.
They also approved issuance and sale of bonds for up to $3.2 million for building a new pump station and gravity sewer near Lanterman Road in Austintown and improving that road through grading and curbing; acquiring computers and related equipment for county offices; boiler and elevator replacements and restroom improvements at Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center; and replacement of the security system and other improvements at the county jail.
The borrowing followed last week’s announcement by county Auditor Michael V. Sciortino the county had retained last year’s A+ credit rating with a stable outlook from Standard & Poors.
Speaking of the rating, Ditzler warned, however: “It is contingent on our being able to balance our budget. ... It’s very easy to lose it. One of the prime ways to lose it is not pass the sales tax in November.”
He was referring to the 0.75 percent sales tax on the Nov. 4 ballot, which would be devoted exclusively to the county’s sheriff’s, prosecutor’s and coroner’s offices and 911 emergency dispatching center.
The commissioners also awarded the downtown Struthers lighting improvement project to S.E.T. Inc. of Lowellville for a total of $57,900 for five new streetlights on State Street between state Route 616 and Poland Avenue.