Group seeks stronger rules on kennel in neighborhood

Salt Springs Road residents were upset over a planned bike trail.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- A kennel and a biking trail prompted two groups of citizens to present city council with petitions and complaints.
Brian Miner and Carolyn Hazinakis, both residents of Longview Avenue, turned in a petition Wednesday signed by 23 neighbors upset over the noise, odors and pests associated with a dog kennel operating at 27 Longview Ave.
Miner said rats and cockroaches attracted by the food for and feces from the 16 dogs kept outside are starting to infest nearby homes. Hazinakis said complaints made by neighbors have not been resolved.
She said she has called the health department for help but was referred to the zoning department, where she was referred to Animal Welfare, who in turn referred her to city officials.
"It's been a vicious cycle and we're getting nowhere," she said.
Law Director Terry Dull told Miner, Hazinakis and others from the area that he is already researching how to strengthen the city's ordinance regarding barking dogs. Dull was asked by members of council's safety committee to look into the issue after their discussion of the same property at a meeting last week.
Barb Busko of the Animal Welfare League confirmed her agency has received 17 complaints about the kennel since 1999 but said there's little that can be done because the dogs are obviously fed and watered.
She also added that though the city is considering banning kennels in residential neighborhoods within the city limits, those already operating would be grandfathered in.
"But the city would be able to set standards for those kennels," Busko noted.
She suggested the city may be able to set standards on excessive barking and possibly increase fines for those cited into court.
"All of you have been through a lot," she told residents. "But right now, our hands are tied."
Another issue
Also presenting a petition were residents from Salt Springs Road, who voiced concerns over a proposed bike trail that will run from Lordstown along the south side of the road and eventually connect to another bike trail to be constructed through Niles.
Both trails are part of the Lake to River Greenway Bike Trail.
Theresa Rendziniak and Margaret Pittman brought the petition, signed by 28 homeowners, concerned with safety issues and questioning how close the trail would be to their homes.
"Why do we have to give up our yards for something Lordstown wants?" Pittman asked.
Ron Barnhart, planning and zoning administrator for Lordstown, said the village is applying for grant money to connect the trail along a similar route a waterline from the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District to the village will run.
The waterline is scheduled for construction this summer, and the bike trail would not be built until sometime in 2008, he said.
Both Barnhart and Niles Engineer Mark Hess said they understood residents' concerns, but noted that Lordstown officials deemed the Salt Spring Road route the most feasible and the safest.
Niles officials agreed to hold off on signing the deal until city representatives could meet with Lordstown officials and homeowners from the affected area to discuss the issue further.
Legislators plan to schedule the meeting for sometime next week.
slshaulis@vindy.com