YOUNGSTOWN — City council voted to have the board of control sign two separate agreements with state agencies for a total of up to $18 million for water improvement projects.

The ordinances, approved 6-0 Wednesday by council, are to enter into joint loan agreements with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority.

Water Commissioner Harry L. Johnson III told council that the loans could be for lower amounts, depending on how much the bids are for the two contracts.

One project would upgrade the Webb Road pump station, which is needed before repair work can be done to a 48-inch main waterline that supplies the site. That station distributes water to most of Austintown and Canfield townships through four pumps, Johnson said.

This project would add another station with another two additional pumps, he said. The new pump station is being built off-site and should be finished in about 12 to 18 months, Johnson said.

The work is needed to repair corroded pipes that are in danger of failing, he said.

The other project is to replace the Crandall Park water main on Gypsy Lane from Logan to Goleta avenues on the city’s North Side as well as replacing about 470 lead waterlines on Fifth Avenue, Tod Lane, Belmont Avenue and Gypsy Lane, Johnson said.

Half of the loan, which is up to $9 million, would be forgiven by the state upon completion of the project, Johnson said.

Numerous water breaks occur on that section of Gypsy Lane, Johnson said.

In a separate ordinance, city council voted to allow the board of control to enter into an engineering services agreement for up to $297,500 with Arcadis, a national firm that has done extensive work for the city, for the Crandall Park and lead waterline replacement project.

AUDIT

Also Wednesday, council voted 6-0 to spend $120,000 on a performance audit of its police and fire departments.

City council on March 5 provided a letter to Finance Director Kyle Miasek asking him to request the state auditor review how the two departments manage their resources, including equipment and vehicles; analyze staffing levels with a focus on scheduling and overtime practices; the management of contracts; and compliance with established policies and procedures.

The request comes after The Vindicator reported Feb. 8 that 15 city police officers made more than $50,000 in overtime in 2024.

In a June 9 email to city council, Aaron Shaw, deputy director of the state auditor’s performance team, wrote the “performance audit will identify recommendations for improved economy, efficiency and / or effectiveness.”

The audit would take nine to 12 months from the start to complete, he wrote.

His team “will issue a final report, which will include background information, findings, recommendations and a summary of financial implications,” Shaw wrote.

The estimated cost is $120,000 with a “subsidized billing rate for local governments” of $41 an hour, Shaw wrote. That would be more than 2,925 work hours.

The audit would review five categories at the two departments, according to Shaw’s letter.

That includes reviews compared to peer and / or best practices for staffing and deployment, overtime management, fiscal management, contract management, and equipment and fleet.

Council voted 6-0 Wednesday to allow the board of control to enter into a $140,000 contract with MS Consultants Inc. of Youngstown to provide consultation and engineering services for a plan for the Belmont Avenue corridor. The plan would take about a year to complete.

The plan received $200,000 from the state Appalachian Community Grant Program.

The plan seeks to increase transportation accessibility and support ongoing and future economic development along the corridor.

Council also voted 6-0 to sell the former South High Fieldhouse land for $64,460 to Valley Christian Schools for its Valley Legends Stadium Consortium plan.

The group has proposed to spend $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 in the summer and have the facility ready by spring 2026.