POLAND Council to force cleanup of neglected properties

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Village officials say some commercial properties here are not being kept in good condition and they want the property owners to get busy cleaning them up.
Village council voted unanimously earlier this week to request that county building inspectors take a look at four commercial buildings here. They say officials also will ask other homeowners to clean up their property as well.
Councilman Bill Dunnavant said village building inspectors are being asked to inspect a vacant gas station at 57 N. Main St., a vacant former gift shop at 15 E. McKinley Way, The old post office at 25 Sheridan Road and another building at 1 N. Main St. He said council will soon be contacting the owners.
"I am sure these buildings are owned by nonresidents, and I am sure there are problems in them," he said. "Council has been extremely patient, but it is time to get this taken care of. I am just sick of it."
The owner of the building at 57 N. Main lists the gas station as a mailing address on Mahoning County auditor records. Dunnavant said council would like to explore having the underground gas tanks removed at the site because it has been vacant for more than a year.
How things look
Auditor records show the owner of the building at 15 E. McKinley lists a Poland post office box as a mailing address. The owner of the building at 1 N. Main also lists a Poland mailing address with the auditor's office.
The Sheridan Road address lists a Realty company as the current owner. The company has a Warren post office box as its mailing address.
Taxes are current on all four properties.
Dunnavant said the lack of care from the outside of the buildings is evident with uncut grass, peeling paint and other aesthetic problems with all four buildings.
He said because the buildings have been empty for so long, the structural problems and hazards that may exist inside the buildings also concern council.
Dunnavant said council just wants the buildings maintained. He would not say if fines would be imposed on the owners but did say council is willing to do "whatever it takes" to get the properties cleaned up.
Dunnavant said some residential property owners may also be hearing from village council in the future. He said the zoning inspector will be looking at a few houses and speaking with the homeowners about their condition.
"I am going to make sure people who own property in Poland Village maintain that property," the councilman added.