SOBE Thermal plant, which provides heat to nearly 30 businesses and apartments in downtown Youngstown, will soon have a new person at the helm, directing the plant's operations. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has filed to replace the current court-appointed receiver Reg Martin with Akron attorney John C. Collins.

According to the Wednesday filing, the PUCO is looking to have someone as a receiver "who resides more locally and who can be present on site more frequently." The filing also stated that current receiver Reg Martin will be voluntarily stepping down from his role.

The PUCO stated in the filing that it has nominated Collins, a Youngstown-native, as receiver due to his "extensive experience in receivership matters." Collins is currently the owner and legal counsel of Akron Title & Abstract Agency, a real estate title company providing closing and title services in northeastern Ohio. His law background includes real estate, civil litigation, domestic relations and more.

This comes after months of unreliable service and repairs from the thermal plant—most recently causing a lack of heat in downtown Youngstown buildings, resulting in business and city office closures. Heating issues at the SOBE plant began in late January. By early February, the plant had installed a new 800-horsepower boiler, ending a week of heating issues for 28 downtown Youngstown buildings.

A spokesperson for the city of Youngstown told 21 News that Mayor Derrick McDowell traveled to Columbus on Thursday to speak with Governor Mike DeWine about SOBE and advocate for the city. 

State Representative Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) released a statement in response to the change and how she has seen SOBE treat its customers in recent months.

"Over the past six months, they have endured mismanagement, threats, loss of revenue, stonewalling, and a winter with 48 inches of snow and multiple below 0-degree days," McNally said. "But thanks to the continued advocacy, coordination, and fight among business owners and my office, we finally got the PUCO and the state to start listening to what we need."

McNally added that she is looking forward to working with Collins once he is officially appointed and "finally get downtown Youngstown back to normal."

When contacted Thursday afternoon, Collins told 21 News that he had no comment at this time as he is still familiarizing himself with the situation and has not been officially appointed as the receiver of SOBE Thermal yet.

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