Mahoning interested in using Trumbull hovercraft, but discussion continues

Staff report

WARREN

Trumbull County officials met with a representative from the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office on Monday to discuss a possible collaboration between the counties on use of the Trumbull hovercraft.

The Mahoning sheriff’s office is interested in the collaboration, but Trumbull officials want to meet again with Bazetta Township officials, as well as those from Mecca Township and Cortland, to find someplace near Mosquito Lake to store it.

Bazetta officials told the county commissioners last month they could no longer afford the maintenance and training for the hovercraft, so it’s been housed at the Trumbull County Emergency Management offices on North River Road the past year.

But Commissioner Frank Fuda said the county doesn’t want to lose something worth about $50,000 that took so much effort to acquire. Grant funds paid for most of it.

The hovercraft, which hovers on water and ice, has been used to save lives two times since it was acquired in 2012.

The next meeting among officials has not been set.