LIBERTY Officials seek action on logging damage

Trustees hope state officials can regulate the logging process in the future.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Township officials have seen the damage to a wooded area along Burning Tree Lane left by logging activity, and now they are hoping state officials can regulate the process in the future.
Carol Reapsummer has made an effort to tell trustees and anyone in a position to help about the logging on the 31-plus acres behind her home on Burning Tree. She said the logging process has left the wooded area with fallen trees and open spaces and replaced what she thought was natural beauty with a view of the freeway.
Township trustees Monday unanimously passed a motion "to authorize the township administrator to write to our state representatives requesting legislation to require regulations for logging companies working in townships. Included in the language, among other things, would be requirements to regulate hours of work, buffer zones and aesthetics."
Here's the concern
Trustee W. Gary Litch said it is clear that the property owner is free to use his property as he sees fit, but officials are looking for a more aesthetic means of doing the logging. He said the issue of logging is becoming more of a problem for all rural townships and communities.
"It's an unfortunate situation, but the property owner wanted to do some logging, and it is his property," he said. "We hope the state Legislature will look at this because it has become a problem."
Several Burning Tree residents addressed trustees with concerns over the logging. Officials said every effort will be made to see that the area where the logging was done is made to look suitable.
jgoodwin@vindy.com