43
Springfield Twp. trustees mull action for road fixes
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
NEW SPRINGFIELD
Springfield Township trustees may have to go to court to get the millions of dollars necessary to restore a township road damaged by strip mining.
Trustees told a packed meeting Wednesday that they met Aug. 6 with a representative from the Mahoning County prosecutor’s office to discuss possible litigation to enforce a 1994 contract clause with the former Carbon Limestone Company and Essroc Materials Inc.
The contract provided that within three years after the cessation of mining operations there, Western Reserve, Donaldson and Rapp roads would be restored to their original condition according to plans approved by the Mahoning County engineer at the time.
However, the company has changed hands since then. Current owner is Republic Services, and trustees said it was represented at the meeting. But Trustee Rick Jones said after the meeting that officials from Republic did not seem familiar with the terms of the contract.
Several residents told trustees they are afraid that since the limestone-mining operation now is described by the company as “idle” but the company has not actually closed down, they will indefinitely be able to evade responsibility to restore the road.
Jones said a cash bond was posted on the roads, but that the amount is not nearly enough to reclaim them at today’s costs.
Trustee Gerald Guterba said that the prosecutor’s office is gathering information for possible legal action and that once trustees have any definite developments, they will notify the affected residents.
Also at their meeting Wednesday, trustees were close-mouthed about what they will say when they meet New Middletown Village Council in New Middletown Monday to discuss forming a joint fire district. All three trustees had voiced opposition to the district several months ago. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. at New Middletown Village Administration Building.
Trustees also accepted the low bid of $127,916 from Foust Construction, Girard, for Phase I and II of a safety upgrade on East South Range Road, pending approval of the Ohio Public Works Commission. Road Superintendent Richard Kennedy said work includes paving, sub-base work and taking 2 feet off the top of a hill for safety reasons.
Former township Trustee Lee Kohler, who is a member of the Western Reserve Transit Authority trustees, said that Springfield Township has the highest ridership of any township in WRTA’s “Dial-a-Ride” program. He said the overall number of riders is growing.
And Fire Chief Matt Gebhardt said that the Canfield Fair Board has not invited township fire and EMT crews back to the fair to help provide emergency services even after trustees backed down last month on their request that the firefighters and EMS workers be paid by the hour and an hourly equipment fee be charged for time at the fair.