Lowellville Village Council Weighs Storm Damage, Makes Police Staffing Changes

July 9, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

By SARAH LEHR

LOWELLVILLE

The estimated cost for stopgap, emergency repairs to McGill Street after the damage wrought by June’s storms totals $74,533.

Permanent, more lasting repairs would cost $541,220, according to village engineers. Either way, it’s money Lowellville doesn’t have.

“Obviously, we’re in a serious financial-crisis situation here to fix our drainage situation,” Mayor James Iudiciani Sr. said at Wednesday night’s council meeting.

Additionally, village engineers estimate it would cost $294,470 for permanent repairs to West Walnut Street and $10,750 to fix drainage from Westfield Street to Cooper Street. An engineer’s report stated that “likely causes” for the damage included heavy rainfall along with lack of routine maintenance and inspection.

Going forward, the village plans to apply for grants from sources including the Ohio Public Works Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Council also passed legislation to hire two new part-time police officers – Joseph Kamensky, 35, and James Weeden, 49 – and allow for the creation of two police captain positions instead of one.

Additionally, council introduced legislation for a $9,000 pay raise for the mayor beginning in 2016. The initial proposed raise was $12,000.

Council will take up that issue at a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.