HOWLAND Cop's proposal wins applause

A wetlands nature trail will be used for education and bird-watching.
By ANGELA WOODHULL
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HOWLAND -- It was a moment of joyful tears and enthusiastic applause at the township trustees meeting Wednesday when Patrolman George Nicklow, down on one knee, proposed to his girlfriend in front of his relatives, uniformed co-workers and a handful of residents.
The proposal came immediately after Nicklow received a badge from Police Chief Paul Monroe, who congratulated him on becoming a full-time officer.
Trustees then announced that the township has received a federal Community Oriented Policing grant of $350,000 that it applied for more than a year ago. The grant will enable Howland to hire two full-time and four part-time officers.
Nicklow, formerly a part-time officer, is the first of the six to be hired.
Nicklow's fianc & eacute;e burst into tears as an engagement ring was placed on her finger.
"We kinda thought this might happen," Trustee Rick Clark said while congratulating the couple and handing them a present.
Taxation study
Trustees approved hiring, in conjunction with Howland schools, Atty. John R. Varanese to investigate the tangible personal property-tax status of Delphi Automotive Systems.
Howland Township will lose an estimated $350,000 a year in revenue if Delphi's request to have taxes lowered is approved by the Ohio Tax Commission.
The Howland School District will lose almost $1 million a year.
"It was Delphi that first brought it to us and let us know ahead of time that they were going to do that," Clark said. "Hopefully, the end result of this is a better work environment."
Trustees said a nature trail will be built by Landscape by Design of Youngstown, the low bidder on the project, at $147,312.50. A second bid of $147,497.50 was received from Northeastern Environmental.
A 200-acre wetlands between Howland Park and North River Road will not be developed, Clark explained. Instead, the nature trail through it will be used for "educational purposes and bird-watching."
Additional business
Free maps of Howland Township have been mailed to all area residents. The updated maps, which include newly developed streets, are also available at the township hall. Advertisers paid the production costs.
It was announced that Cassel Rock Drive will be closed Oct. 6-10 for culvert replacement by county engineers.
It also was reported that Tuesday is the final day flood victims can register for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The township plans to hire storm-water engineers who will interview flood victims, assess the problems, and design solutions. Bid packages for interested engineering companies are available at the township hall.
Clark said the Howland Concerned Citizens Association has been placing fliers in residents' mailboxes saying people need to register with FEMA to get flood issues addressed. "But," he said, "if you've registered with us and you've talked to FEMA, there's nothing further you need to do."
The township, in response to numerous residents' complaints, has declared five properties nuisances: 2700 Barder Avenue S.E.; 3417 Ridgelawn Avenue S.E.; 2860 Hillside Drive S.E.; 3341 Niles Avenue S.E.; 953 Niles-Cortland Road S.E.
The grass was mowed at each location by the township and the cost attached was to the property tax.
A liquor permit was approved without a hearing for Bisori Asian Bistro, 4166 Youngstown Road, where alcohol consumption will be permitted until 1 a.m., except on Sundays.