By David Skolnick

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Questioning whether there’s a need to spend about $110,000 on 2,386 more 96-gallon bins for the city-run residential garbage program, city council chose to wait to consider that purchase.

But council authorized the board of control Wednesday to spend up to $181,000 on a 3-year-old garbage truck to go along with the eight trucks it currently has for refuse collection. The actual truck cost is $180,500.

Most council members said they want more information on the actual need for extra carts before authorizing the purchase.

“Two thousand seems a little excessive,” said Councilman Nate Pinkard, D-3rd.

Councilman T.J. Rodgers, D-2nd, said the legislative body can reconsider a bin purchase, likely less than 2,386 requested, at its next meeting, Nov. 2, if the administration is able to determine how many extra “carts are actually needed.”

Mayor John A. McNally suggested getting half of the requested amount – 1,193 – which would cost about $55,000 rather than $110,000. But council members insisted on waiting for the data before making a decision.

About $5,000 for replacement wheels for the 96-gallon garbage bins is part of the legislation tabled by city council.

Also, council approved legislation authorizing the board of control to approve a $1.5 million grant for a proposed $20 million complex and technology site to produce the world’s only self-chilling beverage cans to be built on a largely vacant East Side neighborhood.

The board is having a special meeting today to approve the grant.

Joseph Co. International will start construction next month with four production buildings and its headquarters bounded by Oak Street, Lane Avenue, Fruit Street and Himrod Avenue.

Production buildings will be done by late summer 2017, and the business will be in full operation the following year.

The company will start with 50 workers and have 257 after three years in business.

There are three homeowners who still need to sell their properties for the second phase of the Joseph Co. project to move forward. McNally said he’s confident the sales will be finalized in the next week.

The next location in the city to be targeted for development is Wick Avenue between McGuffey Road and Logan Avenue, on and near the former Wick Six car dealerships location, McNally said.

Meanwhile, the board of control is expected next week to sign a contract with a company to demolish dilapidated concrete bleachers at six city-owned park locations: Stambaugh Field, Nick Johnson Park, Oakland Field, Ipes Field, Tod Park and Gibson Park.

The city received 10 proposals with $300 separating three of them.

City officials need to finalize their review of the proposals, but the apparent low bid of $174,358 is from Rudzik Excavating Inc. of Struthers.

The two other proposals are $174,498 from Marucci & Gaffney Excavating Inc. of Youngstown and $174,655 from Pro Quality Development Inc. of Campbell.