Wednesday, May 18, 2016
YOUNGSTOWN
City council will consider legislation today 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.
The new line, which is likely to be bigger than the existing 84-inch line, would be installed next year with the goal of having it finished by the summer of 2017, around the same time as the city’s proposed riverwalk and amphitheater project is to be done, he said.
The legislation would also need to be approved by the board of control, which would select the company to handle the design and oversee the project.
Council also will consider an ordinance today 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.
The city signed a consent agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on April 29 to make the improvements and pay a $20,415 fine to settle a violation for a leak of about 500 gallons of chlorine May 4, 2015.
Chlorine is used as a disinfectant of the wastewater. It is harmful if inhaled at a rapid rate.
Also on council’s agenda is an ordinance 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.
REDI is charging $50 an hour.
“We need them for grants we don’t normally receive,” said Law Director Martin Hume. “Some council people wanted to see us be more aggressive in going after grants. They’ll look for grant opportunities we may not be aware of.”
The contract needs to be finalized by the board of control and is slated to take effect July 1.
Council has legislation from its May 4 meeting to consider today. Council couldn’t vote on passing legislation by emergency measure at that meeting because not enough members attended for that to occur.
Among the most-notable items from two weeks ago is a series of proposals to establish an “energy special improvement district” at the proposed downtown DoubleTree Hilton hotel to be built at the Stambaugh Building, 44 E. Federal St.
The legislation by council is needed for the hotel to borrow money for energy-efficient improvements, but the city won’t buy or secure the bonds.
The Western Reserve Port Authority will issue the bonds for the project. The NYO Property Group, which owns the hotel location, would pay $5,528,118 over 15 years for the improvements.