AUSTINTOWN ODOT goes on notice

The township could cut the grass and charge ODOT.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Township trustees have cited the Ohio Department of Transportation for not maintaining property on the north side of Mahoning Avenue at state Route 11.
The citation states that ODOT has created a nuisance by not cutting the grass on the property, and that some of the grass is more than a foot tall.
Trustees issued the citation Monday night. Trustee David Ditzler said the interchange is one of the main entrances to the community and the tall grass does not reflect well on the township.
"Take a look; you won't like what you see," Trustee Richard Edwards said. "Where's ODOT? Nowhere to be found."
An ODOT spokeswoman said this morning that she hadn't seen the citation and would not comment on it.
Request made
Township Administrator Michael Dockry noted that a township secretary called ODOT last week and asked the department to cut the grass.
State law allows trustees to issue citations to property owners who do not maintain their land. Property owners then have seven days to address the issues in the citation.
Township officials said ODOT has seven days to cut the grass. If ODOT does not cut the grass by then, the township will cut the grass and charge ODOT for the work, they said.
"I'm sure they'll rectify the situation," Ditzler said.
Typically, when the township cuts the grass on property that has been the subject of a citation, trustees charge the property owner for the work through property taxes. As a state department, however, ODOT does not pay property taxes, township officials said.
Township officials said they weren't sure how they could charge ODOT for the work if they have to cut the grass, but they did discuss the possibility of taking the state to court over the money.
Officials criticize
In recent months, trustees and other local officials also have criticized ODOT for its plans for state Route 46 in the township and the Interstate 80 bridges over the Meander Reservoir.
ODOT plans to replace the bridges over the reservoir with similar bridges; officials have asked to have the bridges replaced with a causeway that has emergency access lanes.
The state also plans to widen state Route 46 north of New Road to five lanes with a shared middle turning lane; officials have asked to have state Route 46 turned into a boulevard with a median in the middle.
Ditzler stressed that trustees did not approve the citation as retribution for ODOT's decisions on the state Route 46 and Interstate 80 projects.
hill@vindy.com