METRO DIGEST || Mistaken payment

Mistaken payment

GIRARD

The city mistakenly paid $1,259 in state sales tax to a vendor, according to a state audit released Thursday.

Girard made the payment to Trumbull Industries in 2014, despite being exempt from the tax. The company reimbursed the city for the error this year.

“This is an obvious error that should have been flagged by the city’s internal controls,” state Auditor Dave Yost said in a news release.

Auditor Sam Zirafi said the city has no plans to adjust its system to avoid similar errors in the future. “It was a simple human error,” Zirafi said. “People are human. They make mistakes.”

Girard Mayor James Melfi said he was pleased the audit caught the oversight. “That’s why we have audits,” Melfi said. “We’re glad to be reimbursed.”

Southwoods mural

YOUNGSTOWN

A team of four Youngstown State University art students, led by Dragana Crnjak, associate professor of art, was chosen by Southwoods 250 to develop and paint a mural on an interior wall at the west entrance of Southwoods Medical Building on Market Street in Boardman.

The mural was unveiled Thursday. Participating student artists were: Heather Anderson, Jessica Hollabaugh, Arielle Pilolli and Amanda Spinosa.

The painting includes elements of Youngstown history and architecture and references to nature and community. The main logo of Southwoods – the trees – also was included.

Clean audit award

COLUMBUS

Weathersfield School District is one of five entities statewide to receive a clean audit award from Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost.

To qualify, an audit must lack any significant deficiencies, and an entity must submit all financial reports on time.

Senior Day of Service

HOWLAND

Howland School District will host its second annual Senior Day of Service from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The 2017 senior class will do landscaping and beautification projects at seven establishments throughout the community.

Cleanups will take place near the Golden Triangle, Children’s Rehab Center, the East Market Street Gazebo, Trumbull County Fairgrounds, Shepherd of the Valley, Howland Township Park and Howland High School.

Improving safety

CANFIELD

Canfield School District received recognition from the Mahoning Valley Safety Council for improving safety within the district.

The Joan Kovach Safety Leadership Award, which was first issued in 2007, recognizes local businesses and individuals who transformed their workplaces from high-risk cultures to safety-driven environments. Canfield schools received honorable mention this year.

Expunging records

COLUMBUS

The Ohio Senate has signed off on legislation that would enable residents forced into prostitution to wipe resulting criminal charges from their records.

SB 4 passed Thursday on a unanimous vote and heads to the Ohio House for further consideration.

The legislation would expand the list of crimes that can be expunged from records to include offenses of individuals compelled into prostitution. SB 4 establishes an application process for victims to seek expungement through court systems.