WEATHERSFIELD TOWNSHIP Neighborhood group fights noise and dump

Residents expressed opposition to a proposed landfill in Girard.
By MARY R. SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
McKINLEY HEIGHTS -- A newly formed group of McKinley Heights residents has decided it's time to let politicians both in their township and at their doorstep know what they want -- and don't want -- in their neighborhood.
The residents, who live in Weathersfield Township, want less noise and are concerned about the status of the proposed plans by Total Waste Logistics LAS to open a construction and demolition site near the Golf Dome on U.S. Route 422 in Girard.
They also want to learn if there is any financial relief available to residents who paid for tap-ins to recently installed sewers.
Noise complaints
Residents of Gardenland Avenue, of three streets adjacent to it parallel to Route 422, and of Anderson-Morris Road are complaining about a noise problem.
Dave Anderson of 2132 Gardenland Ave. said that a McMenamy's outdoor concert Friday at the Niles establishment's outdoor bandstand "has the whole neighborhood up in arms."
Anderson said residents called Niles councilmen and Mayor Ralph Infante, and asked Niles police to lodge a complaint.
Niles police noted that Niles residents who live behind Pace Pontiac also are complaining about the noise, Anderson said.
Anderson said he also lodged a complaint with Weathersfield police.
Weathersfield Township trustee John Vogel said that although Niles has an 11 p.m. curfew for outdoor concerts, which are held on the weekends at McMenamy's, sometimes the concerts go over that curfew.
Landfill construction
The proposed LAS landfill project includes 19.9 acres in Girard. The company has applied for a license from the city board of health to open a construction and demolition debris landfill.
The application was filed June 9, weeks before a state moratorium went into effect July 1 to put a hold on all landfill applications for six months.
The Girard City Health Department will vote on the application Aug. 9, but Total Waste Logistics also can apply with Trumbull County if the application is denied by the city.
Vogel said that he has learned in discussions with Girard and Niles officials and state legislators that Total Waste Logistics has options in place and land already purchased in Weathersfield near the proposed landfill site.
Rallying the people
A group called Girard United Against Ruinous Dumping is hoping to build support to block the company from opening at the site.
Forty-seven McKinley Heights residents met last week at the McKinley Heights Fire Station last week to discuss topics that had been billed "Noise, Sewers & amp; Dumps."
Vogel said all of the residents attending the meeting said they were against the proposed landfill. Anderson said a dump would ruin property values, and traffic from trucks hauling materials could be a problem.
"No one wants a dump in our back yards," Anderson said.
Residents decided to send requests to Infante and Weathersfield trustees to help in dealing with excessive noise from commercial establishments and off-road vehicles.
They noted their irritation over noise made by dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles that often run in the area until 4 or 5 a.m. Many of the riders have removed the sound suppressers or baffles on their vehicles to make them noisier.
Residents also expressed concerns over payments they have made for sewer tap-ins completed in Phase I of a three-part Trumbull County project.
The group expects to meet again in two or three weeks.