YOUNGSTOWN — With only five of its seven members present Wednesday, city council could only give first readings on legislation to spend up to $275,000 for contracts related to a major wastewater improvement project, settle a lawsuit for $40,000 and sell the former South High Fieldhouse land.

Councilwoman Samantha Turner, D-3rd Ward, and Councilman Mike Ray, D-4th Ward, were unable to attend Wednesday’s meeting.

Council needs at least six yes votes to approve legislation by emergency measure. If it doesn’t get that, it can approve legislation by having three readings at three separate meetings or can approve it by emergency at a meeting with enough members present and at least six voting the same way. Council next meets June 18.

Among the ordinances getting a first reading Wednesday was one to spend up to $275,000 for professional service contracts related to a major wastewater improvement project that is in federal court.

The city took the federal government to court seeking to reduce the size of the project because of escalating costs. Specifically, there is a dispute over a requirement in a 2014 consent decree signed by the city to build a 100-million-gallon-per-day wet weather facility. The structure would treat excess combined sewage during heavy rainstorms and then release the water.

The city is seeking to build an 80-million-gallon-per-day facility and is waiting for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice to sign off on the reduction.

The $275,000 would be used by the city to hire expert witnesses, law firms and a modeling expert, said Charles Shasho, deputy director of public works.

“The modeling and the preliminary design is going to require expert witnesses,” he said.

LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT

The city settled a federal lawsuit for $40,000 with LaJena Solomon of Parkwood Avenue in Youngstown, who is the mother of Landon Lockhart, a 14-year-old boy who was killed and was referred to Youngstown police as a “runaway” rather than a “missing child.”

The city’s board of control had planned today to authorize the settlement, but it will have to wait until after council’s June 18 meeting.

Solomon filed the lawsuit Jan. 12, 2024, accusing the city and two of its police officers of wrongful death and racial bias. She contended the police treated the disappearance of her son, who was black, differently than it does when white children go missing.

The city settled the case during a May 7 mediation session with the city not admitting any liability.

The city is paying $20,000 towards the settlement with its insurance company, Tokio Marine, paying the other $20,000. Also, the city spent about $30,000 in legal fees in this case, said Jason Small, a senior assistant law director.

Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, said: “I don’t want this to happen again.”

Oliver said there’s been “multiple times where children are murdered” and “certain detectives” on the city force won’t do anything about the situations.

Oliver said he and Turner have spoken to an unnamed detective who refused to investigate a missing child.

“If they do that to two council people how do you handle the parents?” he said.

FIELDHOUSE SALE

Council also gave a first reading to declaring the property at 1840 Erie St., where the former South High Fieldhouse was located, as surplus property and selling it for $64,460 to Valley Christian Schools.

The city spent $158,876 to abate asbestos at the building and then have it demolished. The project started in April and was finished a month later.

The fieldhouse opened in 1940 and was used by Youngstown State University, then Youngstown College, and South High School, which closed in 1993, for basketball games and numerous other events. The fieldhouse also hosted other activities and shows, but it hadn’t been used in about 15 years, falling into disrepair.

The city is selling the site to the Valley Legends Stadium Consortium, which is part of Valley Christian Schools, for the Mahoning County auditor’s appraised value of $64,460.

The group has proposed spending $9 million to construct a 3,000-seat stadium with a turf football field and track in two phases. Valley Christian is working to raise the money for the project.

Valley Christian expects to break ground this summer and have the facility ready by spring 2026.

Council on Wednesday gave second readings to legislation to accept a $1.61 million federal grant to pay 75% of the salaries of up to 15 new police officers, purchase 11 new police vehicles for $695,400 and install mobile data terminals in eight of those cars.

Legislation for those items was moved in April to council’s safety committee. The committee met twice before agreeing on May 22 to have city council consider them for approval.