Mahoning Co. health department seeks fixed funding for various programs

AUSTINTOWN — The county health department is seeking a fixed level of funding for its landfill inspection and ground water monitoring programs, money for which has been cut nearly in half in recent years.

At its meeting today, Mahoning County District Board of Health members asked that county commissioners insert language in the host agreement to address what happens with the funding level when tipping fee revenue falls below the 2010 level.

The host agreement is a plan that limits the tonnage and kinds of materials that a landfill in the county can accept and sets the amount of money commissioners will give the health department for the inspection programs until the tipping fee revenue falls below the 2010 level.

The agreement does not, however, address what happens when tipping revenue dips below the 2010 level, which occurred in 2013.

The health department regularly inspects the landfills, open and closed, and monitors residential water wells within one mile of the landfills.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com