Council approves last step for loan to restructure debt, police building expansion

By ROBERT CONNELLY

rconnelly@vindy.com

CANFIELD

Canfield City Council approved the final step Wednesday night for a loan that restructures city debt and provides funds for a police building addition.

Council unanimously approved an eight-year, $1,070,500 permanent improvement loan, with $567,088 for Red Gate Farm debt and $503,412 for the police department building addition.

An addition to the police department was first planned in 2001, but was shelved after the economy took a hit following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“This is much needed,” said Councilman John Morvay.

Police officials have said they need more space for record storage and to fix a wall that has begun to fall apart.

Red Gate Farm sits at state Route 62 and Leffingwell Road and was purchased by the city in 2003 for $2.3 million, with a $1 million down payment. Since then, the city has paid more than $1.69 million toward the debt. The restructured loan also drops the annual interest rate 0.73 percentage points to 2.92 percent. That will save the city about $12,000 annually in payments.

Council also unanimously approved budget adjustments, including $40,000 in debt payments from the police department toward the new loan.

Foust Construction Inc. of Youngstown was unanimously approved for the East Main Street sidewalk project, valued at $247,945.25. City Manager Joe Warino said he is hopeful the project can begin sometime in July.

Foust will be installing sidewalks on both sides of East Main Street, from the Get-Go gas station at the intersection of Hillside Drive and U.S. Route 224 to the Village Green at 224 and state Route 46.

City officials also discussed the Ohio Department of Transportation’s announcement of shutting down Raccoon Road, from Leffingwell Road to U.S. 224, and the northbound state Route 11 exit ramp in Canfield for two weeks starting June 15. Officials will reach out to state officials for signs to ensure commercial trucks do not use Fairground Boulevard as a cut-through. Traffic will be detoured onto the exit for Route 46 if driving northbound on state Route 11 from Columbiana County.

“I do anticipate more truck traffic” with that closure, Warino said.

Canfield Mayor Bernie Kosar Sr. was honored with a certificate of commendation from the United Veterans Council for “exceptional meritorious support and service to veterans of the greater Youngstown area during 2014.” That was for Kosar’s involvement with the Veterans Resource Center on Wick Avenue at Youngstown State University. It was given to Kosar Wednesday night by Canfield American Legion Post 177 Commander Michael Kubitza.