For weeks Youngstown elected leaders have been finding out how neighbors in their wards want over 82 million dollars of American Rescue Plan dollars spent.

The city has until 2024 to spend or reserve, and encumber, funds for specific projects.

Across Youngstown priorities appear consistent folks want neighborhood and infrastructure improvement projects.

They including sanitary sewer lines replaced to help reduce flooding, aging water lines replaced so there are fewer water main breaks, high grass cut, and sidewalk restoration.

Council woman Lauren McNally says to avoid extra cost of doing projects piecemeal city leaders are looking at one dig projects.

McNally explained, "So we plan our infrastructure projects in a manner where once we dig up the road we do all the water lines, we do all the sanitary sewrr lines, we drop broadband if we need broadband, we run our fiber because that is also an allowable use and something the city needs, then we pave the road."

McNally adds reducing the high infant mortality rate and providing tools for police to help reduce crime are priorities. In addition she tells WFMJ news there are discussions about finishing all demolitions of blighted homes and blighted commercial structures in the city.

Councilwoman Samantha Turner adds timely demolition of blighted homes, clean functional parks, and enhanced senior and youth services are also on the list.

Councilman Julius Oliver tells us people in his ward also want life empowering programs for youth.

Oliver emphasized, "What people want to see with the ARP money is basically programming for youth, they want to be able to impact poverty, which means bring people out of poverty reversing things that got Youngstown to that impoverished state."

Mayor Jamael Tito-Brown added, "We got a couple more ward meetings and we are going to put two more meetings on, one for youth and one for our senior citizens."

Councilwoman Samantha Turner said, "Basically my ward requested, street repair, grass cutting, timely demolition, proper grass cutting, sidewalk restoration and clearing, enhanced senior and youth services, waterline repair, sewer line replacements, and clean and proper parks."

Councilman Mike Ray added, "People in my ward also want zoning and code enforcement, economic incentives to attract and support small business owners, and to provide resources for existing businesses who are the anchors in our community."