Hard work paid off for a Masury woman who spent hundreds of hours working to revitalize Brookfield Township.

Last month, trustees honored Deborah Kirk, 49, of Syme Street for her efforts in obtaining $74,000 for the Masury Housing Rehabilitation Program.

While working with the township's Comprehensive Plan Committee, Ms. Kirk and other members learned of different community grants they could try to obtain.

As a 36-year Masury resident, Ms. Kirk said she had people in mind who could benefit from a housing rehabilitation program. Many of them were elderly.

Ms. Kirk said she spent hundreds of hours working to obtain the grant. Continuing personal visits with residents was the norm, she said, adding that she sometimes spent two or more hours in her precinct visiting residents.

She also helped them fill out their applications and checked them over before they were submitted. It was three years before she received the good news.

"I became frustrated because it was taking so long, but it takes time," she said.

Things finally paid off. Because of her work, 17 of the 25 residents who applied qualified for help.

"Some of the older people had forgotten they applied," she said. "It had been three years."

Those who qualified will receive assistance for home repairs and improvements.

"Our area will be an example," she said. explaining that Brookfield is the first to be chosen for the pilot project. The program is the first in Trumbull County and is part of the HOME program which the county planning commission will oversee.

Throughout her 23 years of employment with General Motors Corp. in Lordstown, Ms. Kirk said she always maintained some level of involvement in politics and community issues. After retiring, she had even more time to delve into projects like the housing program.

Ms. Kirk praised Brookfield Trustee Gary Lees for his help with the project.

"I owe it to Gary Lees. He and I worked very hard keeping with the people," she said.

Lees said Ms. Kirk's work upgrading neighborhoods was a big help to the township.

"I'm glad that I have people like her that work for the township. She does it because she wants to see the community grow and prosper," Lees said, adding that programs such as this one are needed.

Trumbull County Commissioners approved an agreement with CT Consultants Inc., Youngstown for engineering work not to exceed $74,000 for the program.

Ms. Kirk and other members of the Comprehensive Plan Committee were also feted recently for researching and writing the township's comprehensive plan.

In 1997 the township invested $22,000 to hire Michael Walker of ProCon Enterprises, Youngstown to produce a comprehensive plan. However, Walker left town without finishing it. The process seemed like it would fail and the township was left with two choices: invest thousands of dollars more to hire a new writer or leave the plan unfinished.

Businessman Ralph Carsone stepped up to the challenge and formed a Comprehensive Plan Committee which included Ms. Kirk and several other residents who researched and finished the plan themselves.

Ms. Kirk, Carsone and Chris O'Brien, another resident, went on to launch Brookfield's first zoning committee.

Each year members of the community are invited to nominate individuals or groups that they consider their neighborhood heroes for an award from Consumers Ohio and Pennsylvania water companies.

The companies present awards in each division and make a $250 charitable contribution in each recipient's name to the organization of their choice.

Ms. Kirk, Carsone and O'Brien plan to donate their contribution to buy a bench for Memorial Park, which will include the engraved names of the planning committee.

Call (330) 675-2480 for more information on the Single Family Owned Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program.