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Poland Twp. residents irked over road conditions, vacant house
POLAND
The township’s “North Hill” residents — those who live in the area bordering Lowellville and Coitsville — got the chance to express their concerns to township officials at a town-hall meeting Thursday.
Road conditions seemed to be a top priority, as several people brought up potholes on New Castle Road.
Trustee Eric Ungaro said the township has been in touch with Mahoning County Engineer Patrick Ginnetti about the issue, since it’s a county road.
Residents also said roads in the area can be dangerous, because many of them are winding and hilly. They suggested adding more four-way stop signs to reduce accidents, an idea to which trustees were open.
A few people also brought up issues with a vacant house on Bedford Road.
“It’s like an eyesore for the neighborhood. And they have young children right next door,” one resident said about the 26-acre property at 1702 Bedford Road.
Township officials say the property belongs to an out-of-town owner, and all taxes on the house are paid. Police and zoning officials, however, have been keeping an eye on the property recently.
Township officials plan to add it to a zoning nuisance list and promised to talk to the county board of health.
“I can promise you this — it’s on the radar,” Ungaro said. “We got some calls on it. The police have been there; they’ve been monitoring it.”
The issue, residents said, is not only that the property is unkempt and falling apart, but they believe it has become a site for drug-related activity.
Police Chief Brian Goodin encouraged residents to call the police if they notice suspicious activity there, or elsewhere.
“This is your neighborhood. You know what shouldn’t be here. Just call,” he said.
Attendees said they were grateful for the chance to talk to township officials about their concerns.
Ron Bunofsky, a Bedford Road resident, credited this board of trustees — Joanne Wollet, Ungaro and Bob Lidle — with being more involved with the area than previous elected officials.
“There’s that mentality of, ‘This isn’t Poland.’ But it is,” he said. “And they’ve done a good job bringing attention to the North Hill.”
He said his biggest concerns as a resident are “safety for the kids, law enforcement response time ... and the roads.”