Warren City Council members are unanimously taking action to help Superior Tire with an expansion that will benefit both Superior Tire but Whirley as well.

Warren City Council members are being asked by the company to abandon an unopened street that extends from the old Route 6 right of way along the southeast line of the Warren company’s property. Superior Tire & Rubber Corp.owns all the property adjacent to the unopened road, Randy Rossey, city codes officer, told council members, and ends at the Superior Tire property.

There was no public comment during a public hearing held prior to Monday’s City Council meeting. Rossey said the ordinance the council is adopting allows for the movement of utility lines at Superior Tire’s expense and at the city’s direction.

“I really appreciate Superior Tire and it’s thinking forward and its ability to go forward,” said councilman Maurice Cashman. “It’s important to the city.”

Hank LeMeur, Superior Tire and Rubber Company president and CEO, said the project is needed in part to bring the types of plastic used at Whirley Industries and Superior Tire into alignment. That project means plant construction is needed.

“In order to do that we need to upgrade our power systems, we have to expand our manufacturing plant,” LeMeur said during Monday’s council meeting. “Everything to the north of Pennsylvania avenue will be molding in the future. In the future everything machined, which we do a lot of, will be on the south side. In order to do that we have to expand the plant on the south side. So the green space we have has the storm sewer right in the middle. Storm sewers are important to us as well as the neighbors. So what we want to do is reroute that storm sewer around so we can build on that property.”

Cashman asked the only question of LeMeur, and there was no other debate on the street abandonment request. The council’s approval was unanimous. Mayor Dave Wortman was the only other member of the council to speak.

“I think this is one of the better agenda items that we as a council can ever be having to take up, and that is an opportunity for residents and businesses within the city to continue to expand and flourish,” he said. “I have always thought that at the city government or municipal government level our ability to set the environment or help the environment be conducive so other entities can explore and expand is really kind of the role of city government. We’re not necessarily the ones that make things like this happen, or opportunities that may present themselves happen, but setting the conditions so businesses or others can explore those opportunities. I think this is a fantastic opportunity. Thank you for this and hopefully everything goes as planned or better.”