Trustee questioning checkpoint decision

The township is preparing its building on Westchester Drive for a new tenant.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- A DUI checkpoint on Mahoning Avenue could not have been set for a worse time, township Trustee David Ditzler said.
The checkpoint was at 6 p.m. Friday between Giant Eagle and Sheetz gas station on the corner of Mahoning and Route 46.
Ditzler said at the trustees' meeting Tuesday that he intends to call the Mahoning County OVI Task Force, which ran the checkpoint. He said it was wrong to have it two days before Christmas as people were trying to get last-minute shopping done.
Ditzler was in the area at the time, and when he first pulled into the Sheetz station, he thought the traffic snarl on Mahoning was probably from a waterline break. He was surprised when he found out the real reason, he said.
"It was terrible. I couldn't believe it," he said.
Township Police Chief Robert Gavalier said his department had nothing to do with the location or time for the checkpoint.
Ditzler said he had calls from three store owners who complained that their customers couldn't get through the traffic.
Traffic backed up from the checkpoint, completely shutting down the road.
Other business
In other business, the township swore in its new assistant fire chief -- Andrew Frost III, son of Fire Chief Andrew Frost Jr. -- and new full-time firefighter Tom Neff.
The younger Frost has been with the fire department since 1986, beginning as a part-time firefighter. He moved to full time in 1992, was made a lieutenant in 1995 and a captain in 2005. He was chosen from four candidates who also included Capts. Ray Harniveous and Dan Martin and Lt. Bob Williams.
Neff has been with the department part time since 1987.
Trustees will borrow up to $600,000 to complete work on the township's building on Westchester Drive before a new tenant, Medical Resources Inc., moves in, in April.
Township administrator Michael Dockry said he thinks the township will need only about $300,000 to complete the work, which includes a new roof, new ceilings, new walls, carpeting, new windows and two remodeled bathrooms. MRI will occupy 24,300 square feet in the building.
In another matter, Dockry said after the meeting that contract negotiations with township dispatchers will go before an arbitration hearing Jan. 19.