By Peter H. Milliken

milliken@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County commissioners have awarded a $2.7 million contract for road resurfacing to Shelly & Sands Inc. of Akron.

The work will be funded in part by a $1 million grant and a $1 million loan, both from the Ohio Public Works Commission, with the remainder coming from local matching funds.

Among the roads on this year’s paving list are Indianola Road from Market Street to South Avenue, Mathews Road from Southern Boulevard to Youngstown-Poland Road, and Southern Boulevard from U.S. Route 224 to Ferncliff Avenue, all in Boardman.

“Most likely, these roads will be done first because of the high traffic volume,” County Engineer Patrick Ginnetti said Thursday.

“They’re looking to start the second week in August. Everybody’s behind schedule because of all the rains” in June, he said of paving contractors.

The commissioners also voted to place a 3-mill, five-year county Board of Developmental Disabilities renewal levy on the Nov. 3 ballot. The real-estate tax levy raises about $11.3 million a year and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $98.45 a year.

“We use this money to serve individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan here in Mahoning County. These funds will be used for the early-intervention program, Help Me Grow, adult services and transportation. We use the local dollars to match Medicaid dollars,” Bill Whitacre, DD board superintendent, told the commissioners.

The commissioners also authorized the use and transfer of Community Development Block Grant revolving loan funds toward the $599,040 McCartney Road sanitary-sewer extension project in Coitsville Township, for which they broke ground Monday.