Judges postpone hearing on MVSD refund of surplus funds

Staff report

WARREN

The judges of jurisdiction for the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District agreed Monday to postpone the hearing intended for today regarding the refund of $5 million in “surplus” funds to Youngstown, Niles and McDonald.

The postponement came in response to a motion MVSD filed Monday that says the water district needs time to consider comments from the Ohio Auditor’s Office sent to the judges Friday. A new hearing date has not been set.

The letter, addressed to Judges Lou D’Apolito of Mahoning County and Ronald Rice of Trumbull County and also sent to the MVSD, was written by Robert Hinkle, chief deputy auditor for Ohio Auditor Dave Yost.

It says the state auditor’s office has “reservations” “about the wisdom” of the refunds.

One reason is a letter written by Alan Tatalovich, MVSD secretary/treasurer, Dec. 2, 2016, that reported the MVSD has $38.7 million of debt owed to the Ohio Water Development Authority and owes $9.1 million on bonds.