Building owner sues township over flooding

Building owner suestownship over flooding
WARREN -- The owner of a building on Belmont Avenue says repeated basement flooding is the fault of Liberty Township.
West End Investment Company of Youngstown says flooding at 2800 to 2850 Belmont Ave. has caused $10,000 in damages to contents and $15,000 in building repairs.
In a lawsuit filed in Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas, the company says the flooding is caused by sewer systems and a ditch that was improperly designed, constructed and maintained by the township.
The company is seeking $200,000 for lost rent and the property's value of $250,000.
Boil-water order
LIBERTY -- Residents of Oakwood Avenue are under a boil-water order beginning Wednesday afternoon.
Work on Youngstown waterlines on Oakwood Avenue, south of Montrose Avenue, begins at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Service will be shut off to customers in the area but should be restored by 1:30 p.m. After service is restored, customers should boil water for cooking and drinking for one minute.
Customers will be notified when the water has been tested and is considered safe.
Councilman resigns
McDONALD -- Joseph A. Ryan resigned from council Monday, just days after he alleged he was assaulted by the spouse of a village employee.
Dennis Mounts, 51, of Pennsylvania Avenue, was arraigned Monday in Niles Municipal Court on charges of assault and aggravated menacing.
Trial is set for Aug. 22.
Mounts is accused of approaching Ryan outside after a council committee meeting Friday, pushing him against a wall and grabbing his throat.
Reports said the encounter stemmed from a comment Ryan reportedly made during the meeting, in which he referred to Mounts' wife, Karen, as "this person."
Karen Mounts is an income tax assistant for the village.
The report said Karen Mounts took offense to the remark, left the meeting and returned with her husband.
Ryan said his resignation had nothing to do with Friday's confrontation.
Car stolen at laundry
AUSTINTOWN -- Police are looking for the man who stole a woman's car Monday from outside Wedgewood Coin Laundry on New Road.
The woman, 67, of Rhode Island Drive, told police the man grabbed her keys from her at about 8 a.m. and got into her car. The woman said she threw coffee on the man and then ran inside the laundry to call police. The man drove away in the car.
Drunken drivers targeted
NILES -- Police have increased the number of patrols this month to target drunken and impaired drivers.
Officers will focus their efforts on various roads in the city and also will conduct extra traffic enforcement patrols each weekend, citing all violations, but specifically speeding, seat belt and child restraint violations.
Service panel to meet
McDONALD -- Council's service committee will meet tonight immediately after a meeting of Parents for Park Renovations, which is at 6.
Both meetings are in council chambers.
Meeting date changed
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township trustees have changed their regular monthly meeting from Aug. 12 to tonight at 7 in the township administration building.
Before the meeting, trustees will conduct a public hearing on proposed zone change amendments at 6 p.m.