MCDONALD Village council votes to trap raccoons

Council is considering increasing the speed limit from 25 mph to 35 mph on a part of Marshall Road.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
McDONALD -- Village council, in a split vote, approved spending up to $5,000 to reduce the population of raccoons in the community by live trapping.
With a 4-2 vote Wednesday, legislators followed Village Administrator Robert O'Connell's recommendation to hire a trapper.
O'Connell previously said he would start the trapping as soon as the method and funding was approved by council. He said the raccoons are killed after they are caught.
O'Connell said he has registered four complaints from residents about the raccoons and about the same number of residents have urged that the animals not be hurt.
Resident's complaints: Councilmen believe the problem is serious, however, and at least one Pennsylvania Avenue resident agreed with them.
Ray Lewis said the raccoons walk up and down his driveway, get into his garage, have damaged his swimming pool and have littered his fenced-in back yard. He also is concerned about the safety of his grandchildren who spend time as his home.
Councilman Joseph A. Ryan, said raccoons did $800 worth of damage to his boat last year, and added, "We need to take a shot" at alleviating the problem. Councilmen Michael O'Brien and Jim Jones oppose the plan.
O'Brien doesn't believe it will work and says the village is taking a chance that someone, especially children, could get hurt fooling around with the trapped animals.
Solicitor William M. Roux said two weeks ago he is concerned about the legal implications for the village if someone gets hurt.
Also on agenda: In other action, council voted 5-1 to prepare legislation that would make the speed limit a uniform 35 mph on Marshall Road east of Ohio Avenue. The speed limit on part of the road leading to Girard is 25 miles per hour.
In celebration of Earth Day, Mayor James Border, in conjunction with the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District, is sponsoring the Great American Clean-up in McDonald on April 21.
Residents who participate are asked to come to the McDonald Fire Station between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day to register. Large groups are required to preregister by calling the municipal building, Border said, and noted that Girl Scout Troop 52 will be helping.
He urged other citizens to join in. He said trash bags will be provided, but volunteers must supply their own gloves. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and the first 25 volunteers will receive a gift from the mayor.