Weathersfield bridge closed for rebuilding

By Mary Smith

Trustees appointed a lawyer to fill the vacant seat on the zoning commission.

MINERAL RIDGE — Weathersfield Township residents are reminded that a nine-month bridge replacement project of the West Park Avenue bridge started Monday.

Signs have been posted on either side of the bridge, which will be unveiled before the start of work, to remind motorists that the bridge is closed.

Trustee Chairman James Stoddard said the project is being handled by the Trumbull County engineer’s office, and Weathersfield police and fire services will continue in the area.

The project will cost $1.73 million, funded by federal and state money. There is no cost to the township.

John Piccuri, county deputy engineer, said funding for the project includes $400,000 in a state grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission and a federal grant of $1,379,225 from the Local Bridge Program, received through the County Engineer’s Association of Ohio.

Piccuri said the total grant money will be $1,779,225, which is higher than the project cost, but the bids on the project came in under budget.

In other business, trustees named Atty. Melodie E. Brockway to the township zoning commission to fill the unexpired term of new township Trustee Steve Gerberry.

Gerberry was in the second year of a five-year term before he was appointed a trustee Feb. 13.

Brockway, of Fox Chase Court, will fill out the unexpired term, which continues through Dec. 31, 2012.

A graduate of Pennsylvania State University and Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Brockway has been licensed to practice law since 2002.

Trustees also hired Bryan Butto of Niles as a part-time police officer to work as needed effective retroactive to April 1. The pay for Butto is $9 an hour.

Trustees also declared a vacant house and garage at 1760 N. State St. a public nuisance