MAHONING VALLEY Lordstown officials oppose nearby septage dumping

Lions Club members said a smoking ban would hurt their fund-raising efforts.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- Village council will send letters to state legislators stating its opposition to the dumping of septage in a neighboring township.
Council agreed during Monday's regular meeting to send the letters, on behalf of council as a whole, to state senators and representatives asking they work to stop the dumping in Jackson Township, Mahoning County, on property near state Route 45 and the Ohio Turnpike.
In October 2003, the Mahoning County Board of Health issued a permit to Rick Glass, owner of a Warren-based septic system company, to dispose of the material on 67 acres he bought on Salem-Warren Road.
Septage is the solid and liquid material removed from household septic tanks. So far, none has been dumped. But residents and township trustees are working to find ways to prevent the dumping from taking place.
A request from Lordstown resident Mike Sullivan, of Lydia Drive, prompted the motion by Councilman Richard Morgan.
Sullivan also suggested council discuss developing legislation to prevent similar dumping in the village.
Lions Club speaks out
In other news, council heard from members of the Lordstown Lions Club, who voiced opposition to legislation that sets the terms and conditions of renting the village's public buildings.
The ordinance, which received a second reading Monday, prohibits smoking in the buildings, including the administration building on Salt Springs Road, where the Lions Club hosts its weekly bingo games.
If the ban is enacted, members said, it would turn away some of their longtime players, which in turn would hamstring their fund-raising efforts.
Lions Club members Richard Albrecht and Ralph Maas listed for council the number of projects the club supports with money raised from bingo, including awarding scholarships to high school seniors, aiding in the purchase of band uniforms, buying playground equipment and providing eye exams and glasses for the area's needy.
"Unfortunately, if this bill passes, it will be basically devastating to our club," Albrecht said.
Maas echoed the sentiments, adding "the losers will be the people of Lordstown and the school kids."
Council had no discussion before giving the ordinance a second reading. A third and final reading is scheduled for the May 3 meeting.
slshaulis@vindy.com