Warren City Council voted 9-0 Wednesday to partner with the Warren Redevelopment and Planning Corporation to assist the city in managing the more than $28 million it's getting from Washington.

Sixth Ward Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold sponsored the measure and tells 21 News it's money that's going to businesses in the city that have already applied for it. The dollars are meant to make the businesses more visually appealing, clean up building facades and make other aesthetic improvements.
So far, there's no word on when exactly the businesses will get that money, but Saffold says it will be soon.

In the meantime, she's leading talks in council about doing what Youngstown did - giving each ward in the city a designated cut of the ARP money.

"We are in the process of voting on that piece of legislation in a matter of weeks," said Saffold. "I hope council will agree to allow the funding to be allocated to specific wards. That way, each council member can appropriate that money the way the residents have asked us to."

Saffold says council is floating a $500,000 dollar figure for each ward, along with the same allotment for each at-large council member.
Council will meet to go over the next steps a week from Wednesday.

Warren City Council also passed an emergency measure to fix part of Golf Drive right alongside Trumbull Country Club.
Some of the pavement is crumbling and falling into the ditch next to the road.
Public safety director Eddie Colbert says Warren City Schools won't even send buses on that street anymore because it's too dangerous.

"This is an emergency," Colbert said. "...bodily harm is at stake here. This isn't just 'it looks bad'...no, this is an emergency and people are going to get hurt."

The city will consider three or four companies to do the job at the cost of around $90,000.
Colbert says he hopes to begin work on the road Monday.

Other business saw Warren City Council vote unanimously to start proposals for two playground projects.
One will be a nature playground at Perkins Park, the other a playground and preschool Bankshot court at Packard Park.
There are still feasibility studies that need done to determine final costs, which will be covered by EPA grant money.
No date has been set for those studies as of yet.