LEETONIA Progress has official bragging

The village can soon begin discussing annexation, the administrator said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Village Administrator Gary Phillips feels great about Leetonia's progress in 2001.
Most residents have been more than understanding about the traffic detours, dust, noise and other inconveniences, Phillips said.
He hopes residents will be as understanding when another round of improvement projects starts in the spring.
"This is a great time for the village, and I'm really happy with the year and all the things we accomplished," he said.
What's been done: With work at the industrial park on the west side of the village, construction of a new school and sidewalks on the north side, and waterline construction in progress in between, residents and visitors sidestepped through the village during much of the year.
He said additional waterline replacement, sidewalk replacement and paving is already scheduled for spring.
"Once we have these projects completed, we can start talking about annexation," Phillips said. "We want to grow, and there are some areas we can take a look at."
Sounding as proud and pleased as a new father, Phillips ticked off a list of completed projects:
U A 12-inch waterline on Main Street.
U A sidewalk replacement project on Washington and Walnut Streets.
U A 12-inch waterline from the water tower to the industrial park.
U Street improvements and extensions at the industrial park.
U A sewer line extension at the industrial park.
First tenant: General Extrusions Inc. of Boardman is the first tenant at the Columbiana County Port Authority's World Trade Park. Phillips said the village is fortunate and grateful GEI officials were willing to break the new ground.
"Imagine being offered a chance to build a new house with nothing around -- only the promise of electricity and water and sewer services," he said. "You wouldn't even think of it, but GEI did."