Company halts townhouse project

Council will seek federal funding for a sidewalk on the east side of town.
SALEM -- Council learned Tuesday that a proposed 7 million project is not going forward.
Council earlier this month gave first reading to an ordinance to support construction of 48 units of family townhouses on Beechwood Road between Allen and Goshen roads.
But the NPR Group of Cleveland wrote council, saying that it was not assured of enough federal support to begin work this year. Council's approval would have given the project a better chance of receiving federal funding.
The company has built more than 12,000 housing units throughout northern Ohio since 1994.
Christy Scott, the project manager, had told council the project is not subsidized housing. The company does help with financing and social service programs, however.
But several council members said they had heard from residents who were concerned about the proposal.
In other action, Don Weingart, the superintendent of the city's board of public utilities, read portions of a letter to council that the Buckeye Water District sent to Mayor Larry DeJane.
In the letter, dated Monday, Buckeye's district manager, Alfred DeAngelis, threatened legal action if the city provided water to Center Township.
The letter said the district plans on extending water service to that area.
The city and the Columbiana County commissioners have been at odds over supplying water.
The city had been providing water through the county water and sewer districts to the federal prison in Elkton. When the 10-year pact ended with the prison, the city tried to provide water directly to the facility. Buckeye wound up with the contract, however.
The commissioners, who have water and sewer districts in the county, had hoped the city would provide water to areas of the county other than the prison.
Other matters
The lawmakers approved an application in an attempt to get about 250,000 in federal funds to install a sidewalk on the south side of State Street. The city would pay about 20 percent of the cost.
City Service Director Joseph Julian said the proposed sidewalk would begin at Southeast Boulevard and would run past Wal-Mart at the east edge of the city.
Councilman Clyde Brown also unveiled new legislation to control exterior lighting from businesses. The move came after residents behind fast-food restaurants on East State Street complained of excessive light.
Brown said he had tested the amount of light and said it was the equivalent of daylight. Some businesses toned down their lights after the complaints.
Brown said the Taco Bell restaurant said it would work on the problem the next time a company crew was in town, which may take seven or more months.
Council also voted against taking bids to buy a new pickup truck for the fire department. Councilman Greg Oesch suggested caution since the city's coffers are tight.