WARREN — Former city councilman Al Novak, who served the community for 30 years, was recognized this week by city leaders and others for his commitment to making the city a better place.

Councilwoman Helen Rucker, D-at Large, presented a proclamation to Novak thanking him and recognizing his service, which benefited people in all parts of the city. Novak, 72, who attended the Warren City Council meeting with a family member, thanked council and officials for the recognition.

Nobak served on city council from 1991 to 2021, having been elected and reelected 15 times.

Novak served on many committees, including police and fire, and was chairman of the finance committee. He was active with the Kinsman House and local neighborhood groups.

Rucker said Novak worked on getting the former St. Joseph Riverside Hospital demolished.

In addition, the Trumbull County Democratic Party sent a letter that was read at the meeting thanking Novak for his support as a member. Rucker said Novak was one of the first people she met when beginning her time on council.

“If I had a question, I could always call him. Over the years, he did so much for different organizations in the community. We all owe a lot to his leadership. We need more people like Al Novak,” she said.

Mayor Doug Franklin said “We are honoring someone who gave so much of his time to our community. Thank you for being a part of my career. You have touched so many people by your service,” Franklin said.

He said plans are to present the “keys to the city” to Novak in the near future.

DAM REMOVAL

City council also approved a right of entry agreement to allow the Western Reserve Port Authority to allow their company to get to the Main Street dam for a removal project.

The low head dam on the Mahoning River runs parallel to Main Street

Mike Welke, water pollution control director, said the motion allows the port authority and the engineering company to come onto Warren city property and have an access point to and from the dam off Main Street.

“This will allow them to access the river to remove the dam,” Welke said.

He said the dam was put in during the steel making era for Republic Steel and Warren Consolidated to allow the local steel companies to get more water from the river. He said the dam is located north of the substation and south of the water pump station near the bridge.

Welke said removing the dam will lower the water level for any future company located there.

“The dam is in bad shape. There is debris that has been built up on the dam. This will help in cleaning up the area of the river,” Welke said.

Council President John Brown said this is one of the last dams to be taken down as part of the $5 million project along the Mahoning River.

SANITARY SEWER RATES

In other business, council gave first reading to increasing sanitary sewer rates for users of the city’s sewer system.

A sanitary sewer rate study was begun in April that found many of the current wastewater treatment processes and pumping stations were constructed or refurbished 35 years ago and are nearing points of failure.

The proposed rates, effective Jan. 1 for inside city customers, is $5.82 per 100 cubic feet and outside city customers $8.17 per 100 cubic feet. The minimum charge for inside city customers would be $11.64 per month and for outside city customers would be $24.52 per month.

Councilman Gary Steinbeck, D-at Large, said the wastewater committee will meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers on the rate increase.