Light district, ditch talk tabled at trustee meeting

Staff reports

POLAND

Residents of Suncrest Drive asked questions about a potential lighting district at this week’s trustee meeting, leading township officials to table the vote for 30 days.

Trustee Eric Ungaro explained that if a block wants streetlights, more than 50 percent of residents have to be in favor. Ohio Edison then gives a figure, and then the township pays for the cost up-front.

“We put it on their [property] taxes for [a certain number] of years to reimburse the township,” Ungaro said.

He said about eight of the 24 households of Suncrest were at Wednesday’s meeting seeking additional information on the project.

He also said residents of Cliffview and Camella drives attended the meeting seeking answers on a ditch that has been in residents’ backyards and growing over years. Residents questioned if they or the township would have to pay to correct erosion and safety concerns.

The board approved a motion to allow residents to request three opinions beginning July 1. Those opinions are from the attorney generals’ office, township’s private counsel, and a prosecutor from Mahoning County.

“We are pretty much deferring all questions to the prosecutors,” because of the possibility of litigation, Ungaro said of the documents.

The township has begun a project funded by a federal grant, the Safe Routes to Schools grant. The project will install a sidewalk along state Route 170 from Dobbins Elementary School to Nesbit Street in Poland village. Safe Routes to School is a federal grant aiming to install more sidewalks around schools to increase foot traffic for environmental and health reasons.

Ungaro said the township has selected three roads to pave this summer. Those are Coblentz Drive, Denver Drive and Hamilton Avenue.