By Peter H. Milliken

milliken@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

The historic Mahoning County Courthouse remains on track for its major face-lift.

The county commissioners Wednesday awarded the $4.6 million courthouse-restoration contract to Murphy Contracting Co. of Youngstown.

The lowest of five bidders, Murphy’s bid was well below the $6.9 million architect’s estimate for restoration of the cornice, gutters and parapet roof of the 104-year-old downtown Youngstown landmark.

The county has saved and borrowed money for several years for the restoration.

The project includes about $700,000 for repair or replacement of about 1,500 pieces of molded clay brick or block, known as terra cotta.

Also included is $184,000 to load, ship, restore and return the copper statues from storage to the courthouse, where they will be reinstalled on the roof.

“The Mahoning County Courthouse is definitely the gem of Mahoning County, and now we have the lowest and best bidder” ready to perform the work, said Anthony Traficanti, chairman of the commissioners.

“We are under budget on the bid, so that gives us a lot of room to do even more on the courthouse. And, if there are any unknowns, being under budget, we’ll have extra money in case something [unforeseen] would arise,” he added.

James Fortunato, county purchasing director, said he hopes the long-awaited work will begin in the next two weeks.

In other action, commissioners approved the purchase of hot-mix asphalt to make permanent road repairs from five vendors at prices ranging from $53.50 to $60 a ton to cover various zones of the county.

They also voted to advertise for bids for a new traffic-light installation at South Avenue and McClurg Road in Boardman.

The installation, estimated to cost about $187,000, is expected to be functional by late summer. It will include a turning arrow for northbound vehicles on South Avenue making left turns to go west on McClurg, county Engineer Patrick Ginnetti said.

He noted the intersection now has only a stop sign for eastbound motorists on McClurg, who encounter a dangerous left turn to go north on the five-lane South Avenue.

The commissioners also approved the appointment of Atty. A. Ross Douglas to represent Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of the county’s common pleas court for $10,000 in her defense against a purported rape victim’s request the 7th District Court of Appeals order the judge to bring the purported rapist to trial in a five-year-old case.

An outside lawyer is needed because the county prosecutor’s office is prosecuting the defendant and cannot also represent the judge, explained Audrey Tillis, county budget director.

The defendant, Maurice Clark, 49, of Canfield Road, remains jailed without bond awaiting the outcome of the case.

The commissioners met at the county Board of Developmental Disabilities Bev Road MASCO workshop in recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.