Boardman Trustees discuss Maple Avenue speeders and trucks
Staff report
BOARDMAN
Several Maple Avenue residents voiced their concerns to township trustees about excessive speeding and heavy commercial trucks passing through the area.
Andrew Yurko of Maple Avenue spoke at Monday’s meeting about his and the residents’ desires for the speed limit to change from 35 to 25 mph and to limit the amount of trucks going through the area near Walnut Street.
“There’s speeding, heavy truck traffic with no concern for anything,” he said. “Everybody’s speeding: motorcyclists, pickup trucks with trailers on the back.”
The problem, Yurko said, has been going on for about 10 to 15 years, but now, all residents are coming together to address the speeding and heavy traffic. Yurko’s wife, Marilyn, has seen many vehicles speed by as fast as what seem like 50 mph.
Administrator Jason Loree said whenever residents come to the board with a problem, officials will find ways to help in any way they can.
“I’m thankful that they came to the meeting to highlight the problem, and we’re going to work to find some solutions that improve the whole street,” he said.
Before taking any action, trustees will wait for the residents’ plan to create a petition to reduce the speed limit of the area from 35 mph to 25 mph. At least 51 percent of the property owners in the area must sign the petition.
In the meantime, trustees said they will have the police department increase enforcement in the area to ensure safer speeds. There is not a definite plan to address the commercial trucks passing through.
In other business, trustees approved the purchase of three new thermal-imaging cameras for the fire department to replace the departments obsolete equipment at a total cost of $3,885.
They also approved the purchase of 40 new Motorola mobile radios for the police, fire and road departments at a cost of $136,282. A portion of the cost will be covered by the Law Enforcement Trust Fund – money seized from drug dealers used for equipment purchases.
Also, trustees swore in new police officer David Jones at an estimated annual salary of $34,530.