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LISBON -- Center Township trustees have received $50,000 in federal and state money to help pay for road damage caused by last February's heavy rains.
Trustee Kenneth Schreffler reported at last week's meeting that of the $50,000 received, 75 percent came from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 25 percent from the Ohio EMA.
A series of rainstorms that struck eastern Ohio in February 2018 resulted in President Trump issuing a federal disaster declaration for 18 counties, including Columbiana County, impacted by the flooding and landslides that resulted. The declaration made local governments eligible to seek federal and state compensation to help pay for expenses incurred in repairing roads and removing the mud and debris.
The township was one of eight local governments to seek compensation, and Schreffler recently learned the township would receive the $50,000 it sought. The roads damaged by the rains were Mattix, Bittner, Saltwell, Logtown and Endley.
"It's been a a long haul but I feel we've done pretty good," he said.
The other local governments that sought compensation and the amounts were: East Liverpool, $870,000; county engineer's office, $254,000; Yellow Creek Township, $23,000; Liverpool Township, $21,000; Madison Township, $20,000; Leetonia, $5,000; and Elkrun Township, $2,500.
In other action, trustee Tim Novak reported receiving a complaint about the need to widen a section of Adams Road because of the hazard it poses, especially in the winter, but he believes the road is wide enough for people who drive safely.
"People just need to slow down," he said.
Schreffler said if they begin widening every section of road that needs it the township will go broke.
"It's that time of year," observed trustee Greg Shive. "If I go into a ditch it's the township's fault, if my mail box is knocked over, it's the township's fault."
After the meeting, the trustees were asked about plans to place a police levy on the ballot. Novak said they still intend to place a levy on the November general election ballot but they have yet to decide how much money to seek, which will dictate the millage amount.
Trustees were also asked if they ever met with county officials and the fire department to discuss what could be done about the number of false alarms at the county jail. Inmates frequently break sprinkler heads or pull fire alarms, automatically alerting the Lisbon Fire Department, which sends a crew with a truck. The costs per run is $500 to $1,000, depending on how many firefighters respond.
The jail is in Center Township, and trustees contract with the fire department to provide fire services in the township. There was a period last summer when there was at least false alarm at the jail every week.
Trustees said a meeting was never scheduled, but in the meantime the number of false alarms at the jail have decreased significantly.
County officials attributed the drop to the fact the culprits are no longer incarcerated at the jail, having either been sentenced to a federal prison or state mental hospital. The county has also installed a new camera system better capturing what goes on the jail.