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Boardman trustees advance projects, consider pet protection
BOARDMAN
Township trustees opened bids Monday for a project that will replace part of the road-salt barn, a 35-year-old structure on the same property as the township government center at 8299 Market St.
The barn, the roof of which road department officials say is in danger of caving in, stores up to 4,500 tons of road salt.
The project engineer will review the bids and come back to the board with a recommendation for the award at its Jan. 11 meeting.
Road Superintendent Larry Wilson reported the township’s road-salt supply has yet to be touched this season due to unseasonably warm weather. This time last year, he said, road crews had been called out 10 times and had dispersed 1,000 tons of salt.
“We’re saving a few dollars, both in overtime and on salt purchases,” he said.
The board also awarded a $173,738 contract to Utility Contracting Inc. of Youngstown and a $43,546 contract to Brock Builders, Inc. of Boardman for projects that will move the township closer to opening the Southern Park Historic District, a planned community space on properties on Washington Boulevard and Raupp Avenue.
One project will extend sanitary sewer and waterlines from Washington to Raupp; the other will renovate restrooms at the Southern Park Historic Stables on Washington.
The township is using a $250,000 capital-improvement grant from the state to cover those costs.
The board agreed to research regulations it could put in place to protect animals, an issue which a resident, accompanied by several others, brought up during public comment.
“We’re here for any animal that has to live in adverse conditions,” said Martha Krompegel, a Forest Garden Drive resident. “We would like Boardman to step up and do something for these dogs that don’t have a voice.”
She asked the board to look into regulations such as requiring pet owners to bring animals indoors in extreme cold or heat. All three board members expressed support for the idea, but said further research must be done.
The board approved temporary appropriations in the amount of $7 million, which will carry the township through March, when a permanent full-year budget must be set by state law.