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Austintown has paid more than double for salt this year
By ROBERT CONNELLY
AUSTINTOWN
The township has spent more than $183,000 on rock salt so far this year.
Last year the township spent “just under” $70,000, township Administrator Mike Dockry detailed Monday night.
“That doesn’t include the rest of this winter and next November and December,” he said. During the initial talks surrounding rock-salt price increases, Dockry said the increase in salt prices would affect how much paving the township could do come this summer.
“It always impacts paving,” Dockry said Monday. “About 1 mile of paving at least [will be impacted] because of the amount we spent this year versus last year.”
Trustees also addressed the issue of potholes. Trustee Jim Davis said many complaints are coming from township residents on county roads, and he encouraged them to file a complaint on the website of Mahoning County Engineer Patrick T. Ginnetti.
“Patience. Slow down,” recommended Trustee Ken Carano. “If it’s a 35-mph zone, make it a 25 mph.”
During the Rev. Rick Stauffer’s first meeting in his new term as an Austintown trustee Monday, the trustees unanimously approved the promotion of Fire Inspector Rick Milliron to captain from lieutenant.
“Rick has done a fantastic job for us. He does a job that not a lot of people want to do or can do,” said Fire Chief Andy Frost III. “He’s gone through some very big projects recently, especially out at the racino. ... We just couldn’t be happier, and he’s very well deserving of the job.”
Trustees approved the resignation of Stauffer, pastor of Tabernacle Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Raccoon Road, from the Austintown Board of Zoning Appeals as he is now a trustee.
Police Chief Robert Gavalier followed up on a few resident complaints related to Pandora, a bar at 169 S. Four Mile Run. He said the bar has been “put on notice” and received some small liquor violations at its establishment.
“Hopefully, the parking on residential streets will cease and we can go back to normal down there,” Gavalier said. “If not, we will start citing them for illegal parking.”
Trustees unanimously approved the transfer of a liquor permit from Elias F. Alexander III doing business as Ball Busters, 3661 Mahoning Ave., to John Marino, 5423 Mahoning Ave.