Youngstown City Council approves $43 million sewer CMAR contract and a package of emergency, capital and grant actions

Youngstown City Council convened in a special session Aug. 26, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., with President Tom Hetrick presiding. The council advanced a slate of ordinances and resolutions, including a high‑value construction contract tied to the city’s federally mandated sewer long‑term control plan.

The meeting’s largest action was passage of ORD‑25‑257, authorizing the city to enter an agreement with Marucci & Gaffney Excavating Company for construction‑management‑at‑risk services on the Mill Creek Park interceptor sewer parts 1 and 2, a project described in the city’s combined sewer overflow long‑term control plan required by a 2003 federal consent order. The ordinance caps the contract at $43,000,000; the measure passed on third reading by a vote of yeas: 5, nays: 1. The ordinance was advanced after being read on the floor and placed before council on motion of Councilman Mike Ray.

Council also approved ORD‑25‑293 and ORD‑25‑298 to move forward with the Youngstown Spring Commons Park and West Avenue Launch improvements. ORD‑25‑293 authorizes solicitation and contracting for the project with total costs not to exceed $2,315,331; ORD‑25‑298 establishes a sub‑recipient grant agreement with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments to provide state ARPA funds for the project, with a total project cost not to exceed $2,978,000. Both ordinances were passed following suspension of the rules and recorded unanimous votes.

On utilities and transportation, council passed ORD‑25‑297, a preliminary participatory agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for PID No. 115790 (US‑224 waterline replacement and relocation, approximately 2,100 feet). The ordinance states the city is required to pay 100% of utility relocation costs and sets a project cap of $1,482,267; council voted to suspend the rules and approved the measure unanimously.

In procurement and emergency repairs, council approved ORD‑25‑299 to waive formal bidding under Ohio Revised Code §735.051 and authorize up to $300,000 to A.P. O’Horo Company for emergency replacement of a collapsing brick facade at 1475 Teamster Drive (City Street Department). Council also approved ORD‑25‑286 ($27,050 to Alcon Mechanical Piping, Inc. for City Hall third‑floor AC replacement) and ORD‑25‑288 (payment to Boak and Sons for roof repairs at sections 14–15 of the Covelli Centre, not to exceed $63,257). Those measures passed after suspension of rules and recorded unanimous approval.

Council amended ORD‑25‑302 on the floor to increase appropriations for the Fire Department to purchase two Pierce pumper trucks. The caption was amended to replace $2,000,000 with $2,100,000; the amendment carried (yeas:6, nays:0), the rules were suspended and the amended ordinance passed unanimously.

The council committed up to $150,000 over four years as the city’s share for the Mahoning County Healthy Homes & Lead Hazard Control Program application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (ORD‑25‑291), specifying a maximum of $10,000 per housing unit. Council also authorized multiple professional‑services agreements with Youngstown State University’s Center for Applied GIS for RPIS software and mapping/data analysis (ORD‑25‑294, ORD‑25‑295), and a five‑year agreement with Access Wireless Data Solutions for cellular coverage in police cruisers totaling $73,106.40 (ORD‑25‑296).

Council read and received numerous communications and notices (including liquor‑control transfer notices and a 120‑unit development notice for Homestead Crossing) and adopted ceremonial resolutions honoring community festival honorees (RES‑25‑07 through RES‑25‑10). The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn by Councilwoman Anita Davis, seconded by Councilman Mike Ray.

Votes at a glance

- ORD‑25‑257 (Marucci & Gaffney CMAR for Mill Creek interceptor sewer; cap $43,000,000): passed, yeas 5, nays 1; mover: Councilman Mike Ray. - ORD‑25‑293 (Youngstown Spring Commons Park and West Ave Launch — solicit/contract; cap $2,315,331): passed, unanimous; mover: Mike Ray. - ORD‑25‑298 (Sub‑recipient grant agreement with Eastgate for Spring Commons; total project cap $2,978,000): passed, unanimous; mover: Mike Ray. - ORD‑25‑297 (ODOT PID 115790 waterline replacement/relocation ~2,100'; city pays 100% of relocation; cap $1,482,267): passed, unanimous; mover: Mike Ray. - ORD‑25‑299 (Emergency facade replacement to A.P. O’Horo; up to $300,000; bidding waived per ORC §735.051): passed, unanimous; mover: Mike Ray. - ORD‑25‑302 (Fire Dept. appropriation for two Pierce pumpers; amended to $2,100,000): amendment and ordinance passed, unanimous; mover: Mike Ray. - ORD‑25‑291 (Commit up to $150,000 over four years for HUD lead hazard reduction grant via Mahoning County program; max $10,000/unit): passed, unanimous; mover: Mike Ray. - ORD‑25‑286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 292, 294–296 and ORD‑25‑300 through ORD‑25‑311 (procurement, POs, professional services, small appropriations and discretionary funds): all read, rules suspended on motion of Mike Ray, and passed by recorded unanimous votes (yeas:6, nays:0) unless otherwise noted above.

What this means: The council advanced large capital work tied to the city’s federal consent‑order obligations for combined sewer overflows, committed local matching and ARPA funds for parks and housing‑related grants, and approved several emergency and routine operational expenditures. The meeting record shows mostly unanimous support for the items considered, with the Mill Creek CMAR ordinance recorded as the lone vote split (5–1).