CANFIELD — Township trustees on Tuesday declared 6228 Tippecanoe Road and the corner of Herbert and state Route 46 as nuisances because of high grass.

But before the vote, David DiRusso, owner of the property at the southwest corner of the Herbert Road and Route 46, said he needed to clear up a few things.

He first showed a letter from the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office giving him three days to cut the high grass.

DiRusso told trustees he bought the property in 2011 and always was concerned about making it look nice. He said he is using the property to stockpile sand and crushed blacktop aggregate that he claimed to “use in keeping the property maintained.

“I don’t mind cutting the grass, but the property is staked off and I’m not touching those stakes,” he said. “I don’t know why they are there.”

He said the stakes are in the right-of-way. Trustees then informed him the street rights of way are handled by different entities. The Herbert Road side of the property fell under the city of Canfield, while the state Route 46 side fell under the state.

As to the stockpiled materials on the property, DiRusso said it can be used for construction projects, but no one wanted it at this time. He also asked if he could get a conditional use permit to continue storing the aggregate and other materials.

“Your property is in a business district zone,” township Administrator Keith Rogers said. “Stockpiling can only be done in an industrial zone.”

Chairman Brian Governor told DiRusso the issue before the trustees was about high grass at this point, not about the piles.

“I would prefer you met with zoning inspector Traci DeCapua and worked out the pile issues,” Governor said.

Trustee Marie Cartwright told DiRusso he should contact city manager Wade Calhoun regarding the stakes in the right of way.

Later in the meeting, trustees unanimously approved declaring the two properties as nuisances, thus ordering the cleanup within seven days. If the properties aren’t mowed, the township will have the right to mow them and place a lien on the property title for the cost.

Trustee Joe Paloski said the property on Tippecanoe Road has been abandoned for about two years.

Troy Rhoades from FirstEnergy Ohio Edison spoke to trustees on their efforts to ensure easements are free for access to distribution and transmission lines in the township. He said some property owners have installed sheds, pools and even driveway extensions across the easements.

“When we have to drive a huge truck over concrete, it can easily crack it,” Rhoades said. “The repairs would fall on the property owner.”

He said township zoning should be made aware of the problem and be able to prevent structures from being placed in the rights of way. He said in many cases, the lines run through backyards and the property may change hands four or five times. The new owners may not be aware of the easements.

“Realtors should make buyers aware of the easements,” he said.

Also Tuesday, trustees unanimously approved $12,275 to Everbrite Power Sweeping and Paving to handle the township’s street-sweeping program on all township curbed roads, and $3,400 for debris removal and testing.

Trustees approved Adam Construction to perform the work needed to level the concrete sidewalks in the Villa Rosa Development located at the corner of Villa Rosa and Montreale Drive at a cost not to exceed $1,280.

Trustees approved an additional payment not to exceed $3,000 to CT Consultants for the completion of the Canfield Township Land Use Plan.

Trustees approved changing DeCapua’s employment from full time to part time at rate of $20.55 per hour, effective Aug. 13. The request for the employment change was made by DeCapua.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

LIBERTY — A car crashed through the entrance of the Landmark Restaurant near the corner of Churchill Road and ...

WARREN — Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC in Boardman has donated $10,000 to BRITE Energy Innovators to support the ...

LORDSTOWN — The Ohio Power Siting Board, when it meets next week, is expected to answer an appeal from the ...

Copyright © The Vindicator | https://www.vindy.com | 240 Franklin Street SE, Warren, OH 44482 | 330-841-1600 | Terms of Service