Struthers moves ahead with state Route 289 resurfacing for 2018

January 28, 2016 at 12:02a.m.

STRUTHERS

Struthers moved forward on a project to resurface about 2 miles of state Route 289 at city council’s regular meeting Wednesday night.

Council gave a resolution to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation project its second of three required readings.

The city will pay about $118,000, which is 20 percent of the estimated construction cost.

Federal transportation funds directed through ODOT will cover the remaining $472,000, officials said.

The project, which involves resurfacing the portion of the route within city limits, is set to begin in 2018, Mayor Terry Stocker said.

In other business, Law Director Dominic Leone reported the city has one case pending, a wrongful-death lawsuit in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court involving a 2012 gas explosion at the Struthers waste-treatment plant. Two city workers died after suffering burns from the explosion.

The city is a plaintiff in the case, which is set for a status hearing March 28 at 1:30 p.m.

Stocker and Safety Director Ed Wildes also gave reports, but neither they nor Leone made any mention of an internal investigation into the conduct of Struthers police in the hours before a Sept. 10 hanging in the city jail.

A news release issued by the mayor Friday afternoon said the investigation will focus on whether city personnel followed policy and procedure.

Council met in executive session before the regular meeting to discuss a legal matter.

Executive sessions are closed to the public.