Youngstown council to weigh $5M sewer line replacement

YOUNGSTOWN

City council will consider legislation Wednesday to spend up to $400,000 to hire a company to design and oversee the replacement of its largest and likely oldest sewer line.

The 84-inch brick line runs parallel to the Mahoning River between Hazel Street and South Avenue – about 40 feet behind the rear of the Covelli Centre and through the former Wean United Building property – and is more than 100 years old, said Charles Shasho, deputy director of the city’s public-works department.

“The line is deteriorating and missing bricks,” he said. “There are multiple layers of bricks, but once you lose bricks, it’s like a house of cards.”

After the design work is finished, the city will know the estimated cost of replace the line, but it’s likely to be about $5 million, Shasho said.

Aong other items, council also will consider an ordinance to authorize the board of control to advertise for proposals and sign a contract for up to $120,000 for a chlorine and sulfur dioxide alarm system at the waste-treatment plant on Poland Avenue, and another to enter into a two-year contract for up to $200,000 with Youngstown State University’s Regional Economic Development Initiative for REDI to assist city departments with applying for state, federal and foundation grants.

Read more about the meeting in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.co.