City of Struthers Mayor’s Report

MRCO Lower Connector Bridge Ceremony

 

On Monday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m. a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held for the new MRCO Lower Connector Bridge. This bridge spans the Mahoning River between the city of Struthers and the city of Campbell within the Mahoning River Corridor at the west end of Bob Cene Way. The bridge is a two-lane highway bridge, including abutments and piers, approximately 36 feet wide and 185 feet in length.

The Ohio Department of Transportation led this project with a total bid cost of $1,738,364. ODOT inspection cost was approximately $173,836 for a combined total project cost of $1,912,200.

This project is part of the Mahoning River Corridor Initiative Master Plan developed to promote economic development, transportation connectivity, advance quality of life and the establishment of public and private partnerships within the corridor, especially in CASTLO Industrial Park, the city of Campbell and city of Youngstown.

All are welcome to celebrate the grants and funds received to complete this bridge, otherwise in this economy I believe we would have had to terminate the project. This ceremony will take place at the bridge site at 11 a.m., and refreshments will be available at 10:30.

 

The next Metro Government Leaders Roundtable is Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. at the Boardman Township Government Center. There will be an update on joint purchasing initiative of fuel in Mahoning County and discussion updates on petitioning state legislators for LED street lighting.

 

I would like to thank Astro Shapes, LLC, for welcoming Vice President Joe Biden and Gov. Ted Strickland to our community on Oct. 4. I was able to meet and speak with both Vice President Biden and Gov. Strickland about our community, current events and update them on both the Methane Generator Gas Project and the MRCO Bridge mentioned above. I also was able to discuss with Gov. Strickland the condition of our fire station and the need to assist us in obtaining funds to fix or replace the outdated station.

 

Citizens soon will be getting information regarding the Gas Aggregation Program in the mail. I, along with City Council, am pleased to offer the residents of the city of Struthers a simple way to renew your natural gas contract. Direct Energy will continue to serve us with a new stable rate of $5.92 per Mcf ($5.82 per Mcf for eligible senior citizens), beginning with your January 2011 billing cycle and will remain effective through your July 2011 billing cycle, with no enrollment fees and/or no early cancellation fees.

If you are currently a Direct Energy customer you need not do a thing; you will automatically be given the lower rate. If you are not currently enrolled in the gas aggregation program with Direct Energy; you will need to call their customer service department at 1-866-803-4618 and tell the Customer Care specialists that you are calling to enroll in the Direct Choice Program for the city of Struthers. Please be sure to have your natural gas utility bill readily available, because you will need your utility account number to enroll. Also, if you are currently with another supplier, you should verify with them whether your current contract has an early cancellation fee before you cancel with them and take advantage of this special offer.

If you prefer an alternative renewal option or wish to cancel your contract, please call Direct Energy by Nov. 29. If you do not contact Direct Energy by this date, your new rate will automatically go into effect starting with your January 2011 billing cycle. You always will have the freedom to cancel your service at any time without an early cancellation fee. I encourage residents to take advantage of this offer and if you have further questions or concerns, feel free to contact my office at 330-755-2181 Ext. 110.

 

I submitted a Situational Distress Request to the Ohio Department of Development. If we are granted as a situational distressed city, it will enable us a better opportunity to secure monies from federal appropriations. The city of Struthers realized a permanent loss of approximately $48,367 in 2010, of withholding tax revenue from businesses that have moved, closed or filed bankruptcy in the tax years 2008 and 2009. In 2011, an additional $12,000 will be lost as a longtime grocery store business closed its doors, and also in the year 2011, an estimated $17,618 of withholding revenue will be lost to a bordering city in result of a .5 percent increase in their city tax rate. From 2007 to 2009 the city of Struthers also has realized a decline of $117,330.34 total city tax revenue dollars.

 

The Struthers Veterans’ Memorial Committee will observe Veterans Day on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the memorial site on the corner of Euclid Avenue and Morrison Street. The key speaker will be Brigadier General James J. Muscatell, Jr., commander 403rd Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. He commands the only Reserve Flying Unit in Mississippi and the largest tenant unit on Keesler AFB, a wing of more than 1,400 reservists. The wing’s mission is to train, equip and employ airlift forces in worldwide support of the nation’s interests. This primarily includes tactical air-land and air-drop of personnel, supplies and equipment. Other missions include providing trained support personnel to augment active duty personnel, support of aero-medical evacuations and humanitarian flights. In addition, he is responsible for the only aerial weather reconnaissance squadron in the Department of Defense.

 

On Oct. 14 a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house was held for the Struthers Newsstand Company. The Newsstand emerged from ashes of a fire to retake its position as a convenience store. After extensive renovations, “The Newsstand” reclaims its over-70-year heritage and we welcome owner Tom Tirabassi back into our city and wish he and his store the best and encourage citizens to patronize all of our local businesses.

 

On Oct. 17, a memorial service at the Peacekeepers Memorial located on Poland Avenue/Lake Hamilton was held in remembrance of those who served. The 241 Marines and Sailors that were killed by a suicide bomber in Beirut, Lebanon, on Oct. 23, 1983, will never be forgotten. Local residents Ed and Maryann Johnston were present to pay tribute to their son who lost his life in this bombing, U.S. Marine Edward Johnston.

 

Halloween hours will be held on Oct. 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. I’d like to wish all a happy and safe Halloween.