YOUNGSTOWN — The city may consider cracking down on the illegal dumping of tires by increasing the penalty for those convicted, as well as requiring all shops in Youngstown that take old tires to be registered and keep track of how many they receive.

The issues were discussed Monday at a council public health committee meeting.

Illegal tire dumping has long been a problem in Youngstown.

Councilwoman Samantha Turner, D-3rd Ward, and public health committee chairwoman, said she wants legislation to be approved in January or February to require all tire shops to register and provide the city with annual receipts of how many tires they receive each year.

Health Commissioner Erin Bishop said there are about 100 shops in the city that take tires and a $100 annual licensing fee would be charged. The health department would oversee the registration.

Bob Burke, program coordinator for Green Youngstown, said city code calls for those convicted of dumping tires to get a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Burke suggested the city look at using the state law, which for the illegal dumping of at least 10 tires is up to four years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

The city has to pay about $80 a day to Mahoning County for each prisoner housed at the jail for misdemeanor convictions of city laws.

Councilman Jimmy Hughes, D-2nd Ward, and a former Youngstown police chief, mentioned the expense of housing inmates could be costly for the city.

The council committee also discussed plans for the long-dormant Bottom Dollar grocery story at 2649 Glenwood Ave. on the city’s South Side.

City council on Oct. 2 approved spending $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan money to rehabilitate and redevelop the 18,000-square-foot building with the Village of Healing, a Euclid agency, as the main tenant. The Village of Healing plans to open an infant mortality clinic there.

There will be two other tenants there, but those other occupants are unclear.

The board of control on Thursday will select a contractor for the building improvements, but the cost is less than the $1.5 million ARP allocation.

City council will consider today giving $200,000 of that unused ARP money to the Intentional Development Group to provide start-up costs, planning and expansion for a food co-op at the Bottom Dollar location. Also, $100,000 of that ARP money would go to the Ohio Urban Renaissance Center on North Avenue to upgrade its facilities.

City Finance Director Kyle Miasek told the committee the city is still working on a long-term plan for the building.

Bottom Dollar went out of business and closed its three stores in Youngstown in January 2015 after the company was sold to Aldi Inc.

The city acquired the Glenwood Avenue property, the former Cleveland Elementary School and a playground from Aldi.

It was sold to ONE Health Ohio in April 2016 with plans to develop it into a health facility and food distribution site. But that was unsuccessful and the city refunded the $150,000 building purchase price ONE Health in June 2023.