Struthers looks to remove dam, improve sidewalks

By SARAH LEHR

slehr@vindy.com

STRUTHERS

Officials hope a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will allow the city to start cleaning up a portion of the Mahoning River.

Struthers council passed legislation Monday to allow the city to apply for a $4,938,500 grant to remove an industrial dam on the Mahoning River between Struthers and Campbell. The dam exacerbates pollution in the river by causing build-up of sediment, Mayor Terry Stocker said.

Of the estimated project cost, $500,000 would go to dam removal, $938,500 would go to stream bank restoration and $3.5 million would go to removal and disposal of contaminated sediment. Stocker said that in the past the city has been denied grant money to remove the dam, but that he is hopeful this time around.

Council also passed legislation to apply for a $200,000 Transportation Alternative Programs Grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation, which would go toward repairing sidewalks throughout the city. In February, Struthers applied for a $500,000 ODOT Safe Routes to Schools infrastructure grant. That money, which would have gone to sidewalks specifically around schools, was denied.

“We are very disappointed,” Stocker said. “It appeared that the majority of recipients of that money were major cities, like Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus.”

Struthers, did, however, receive $12,500 from the ODOT Safe Routes to Schools Non-infrastructure Program, which the city will use for crossing guards and bike safety education in schools.

Council also passed legislation to create the position of a temporary, part-time building maintenance supervisor. The supervisor, who will be responsible for cleaning city hall, will receive $8.10 an hour for no more than 28 hours a week.