Youngstown council embraces plan to raise sanitation rates to fund demos

YOUNGSTOWN — Most members of city council embrace the administration’s proposal to raise residential sanitation fees to fund demolition while decreasing water rates.

But during a special meeting today several said they weren’t ready to vote on the proposal at their next Wednesday meeting.

Councilman Nate Pinkard, D-3rd, and Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st, suggested the city borrow a large sum of money and do a massive amount of demolition now.

But Finance Director David Bozanich said state law wouldn’t permit the city to borrow millions to demolish houses.

Councilman Mike Ray, D-4th, said the proposal is forward thinking and says it is a great plan to solve the city’s problem of dilapidated structures.

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