Leaders: Village can take time to grow

With infrastructure in place, leaders are looking for controlled growth.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- For many years, this village in the southwest corner of Trumbull County didn't have to worry about finances.
With the work force of General Motors' Lordstown plants providing steady income, it was easy for workers to ensure roads were paved and clear, parks were litter-free and well-kept and all the bills were paid.
While the plant still operates, now producing Chevrolet's newest vehicle, the Cobalt, the work force has dwindled from 12,000 in its heyday to about 6,000 workers today.
"It presents some challenges for us, that's for sure," said Mayor Michael Chaffee. "We didn't have to be that creative before. We were financially sound."
These days, however, the mayor, council and Planning and Zoning Administrator Ron Barnhart find themselves actively promoting Lordstown to prospective residents and businesses.
"We present ourselves as a rural community that has all the amenities of a large city," Barnhart said.
Much of Lordstown's infrastructure -- roads, utilities and sewer systems -- were put in place as GM constructed its facility. Originally, local leaders believed Lordstown would grow to a community of about 40,000 residents. But since much of the work force already lived in the Mahoning Valley and simply commuted, the anticipated growth never came.
Today, Lordstown is a village 25 miles square with about 4,000 residents.
But Chaffee looks at the situation as a positive. It's a chance for Lordstown to grow, in a controlled way.
"I really think we need to grow, but not necessarily become a bustling suburb," he said. "We have plenty of room for industries and residents, but we can take our time."
In an effort to attract business to the village, village leaders have erected a sign emblazoned with the village's Web site address -- www.lordstown.com -- along the Ohio Turnpike, as well as advertised in several trade publications. Barnhart also attends local trade expos, where businesses often network with one another, with literature to promote the village.
But he credits Chaffee with wooing some of the companies who have recently relocated to the village.
"He's been relentless with some people," Barnhart said.
Moving in
In recent months, the village has seen several support industries for GM, such as Intier Automotive Systems and Automodular, move into local industrial parks.
A state grant will allow for the development of a road through Henn Industrial Park, which could lead to more businesses, Barnhart noted.
As for attracting residents, Chaffee said the challenge is to overcome the perception that Lordstown is so far removed from other communities. With the Ohio Turnpike and other major highways near the village, it's not difficult to maneuver, he said.
Another obstacle, Chaffee acknowledged, is housing. Most of the homes in the village are large with high property values. Paying the mortgage and taxes on such homes can be a little daunting, especially for young couples, he said.
Also needed are sewer systems on the east side of the village, he added.
"But right now, we have developers in here constructing some smaller homes," he said. That could make it easier for younger people to afford housing in Lordstown, he said.
Attracting seniors
Village leaders are also interested in making a concerted effort to attract more seniors to the area with senior housing and health-care facilities.
Because the village has the land to develop senior citizen complexes, it would be a boon if regional hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic would want to open satellite centers in the area, he said.
Also ready for some growth is the Lordstown Local School district, said Superintendent Douglas Shamp. Earlier this year, the district was released from state-imposed fiscal emergency status. Shamp said school officials are already looking ahead to keep the finances in good condition.
"We have two renewal levies coming up soon," he said. "If we get those passed, we should be in good financial standing for a little while."
With the finances in place, the district plans to step up in areas of technology to ensure pupils are competitive in the working world.
"Technology really is our biggest emphasis right now," Shamp said. "We are constantly upgrading in that area."
Improved technology in the schools would mean advances in several areas of the curriculum as well, he added.
"Because of our financial situation, there were a lot of areas that we had to put on hold," Shamp said, noting classes such as shop are not offered in Lordstown, but rather at the Trumbull Career and Technical Center.
"Those are things we can look at now and see about implementing."
slshaulis@vindy.com