Land dispute headed to court
Staff report
LISBON
A battle over an annexation of land to Salem is going to court.
Judge David Tobin of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court will hear a case Friday brought by Green Township Trustees Dave Slagle, Mark Stepuk and George Toy from Mahoning County.
The judge will hear a request for a temporary restraining order disallowing the annexation.
Salem Mayor Jerry Wolford recently sought the annexation of about 99 acres on the west side of U.S. Route 62 north of the city. Some of the property is in Perry Township in Columbiana County, and some is Green Township in Mahoning.
The city obtained an option to buy the properties to have room for the city to grow. The city doesn’t have money now to buy the land, however.
Columbiana County commissioners earlier this year approved the annexation under a section of law that prevented appeals so projects would not be bogged down in court action.
The key property in Perry Township needed to connect the city with Green is owned by Robert D. and Alice E. McCluggage, who supported the annexation.
McCluggage, who has power of attorney from his wife, then changed his mind about annexing the property.