Sprucevale property set for demolition

CALCUTTA - A property on Sprucevale Road will, soon, no longer be a nuisance to the township residents while residents near state route 170 are dealing with an engine breaking nuisance that's causing problems at their homes.

At the township meeting Tuesday night, the trustees passed a motion to contract Mike Pusateri Excavating for the demolition, removal of debris and fill-in of the three structures located at 15132 Sprucevale Road.

Pusateri submitted a bid of $5,475, which actually was the second lowest bid the trustees received. The lowest bid, though, was deemed ineligible by the board as there was a miscommunication on how many building needed to be demolished and removed.

"The first contract that was the lowest bidder did not meet the requirements," Robert Swickard, trustee, said. "He only had bid on one of the structures, not three."

Swickard also added that they made sure Pusateri met all the criteria and he understood what was expected at the property.

The motion was made by Swickard and seconded by James Hall, trustee. The motion passed unanimously 2-0, as James Sabatini could not make the meeting due to family obligations.

The motion, detailed what Mike Pusateri Excavating must accomplish in the contract.

"The contract is to cover all of the demolition, removal from the property to a properly disposed of Ohio EPA site," Swickard said. "Since there's basements, they're to be completely filled, flushed with the surrounding ground level with an acceptable dirt material brought on to site."

The trustee continued to say that no debris can be used a fill and top soil, along grass seed and straw must be layered on top of the filled in areas.

Also at the township meeting, a resident near Old Fredericktown road, alerted the trustees of engine breaking problems on state Route 170 between St. Clair Avenue through the Turkana Hills community. The problems also exist near Calcutta-Smith Ferry Road as well, said the resident.

"It's quite noisy," the man who requested not to be identified, said.

Fiscal officer, Deborah Dawson said he did not have to orally state his name, but she had the resident's name on record from the sign-in sheet.

The man said there may be residents, who live nearby, who contribute to the problems he described and he said he did not want to cause problems with anyone in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately for the resident, since the problem occur on a state and county road, the trustees said it is out of their hands and in control.

"Without their input in this, there's nothing we can do," Hall told the resident. But he admitted there is a real problem with engine breaking.

"It is a nuisance, it really is," Hall said, who owns a convenience store near the problem area.

Both the resident and trustees said that, sometimes, drivers may take advantage of the situation and they modify their engines or mufflers.

The resident said something should be done since the Turkana community brings a lot of tax dollars into the community and they have been putting up with the load noises that shake parts of their homes.

Both Swickard and Hall said they would contact state officials who may give insight into curbing the problem.

The resident, who said he spoke for many in the area, thanked the trustees for their help.

"I appreciate it, the community appreciates it," he said.

Also at the township meeting:

- Scott Barrett, road supervisor, reminded everyone that Stagecoach Road will be closed from Parkway to Marty during the hours of 7 to 11 a.m. for pipe repairs on Thursday. The supervisor did say he would try to delay the start of the project until about 8 a.m. so the morning traffic would not be interrupted as much.

- weeds have been sprayed around the township to help curb their growth.

- the fire department received forestry gear that included a suit and a blanket bag. Fire officials reported several calls from the Beaver Creek Horsemen's Camp area in regards to lost or injured riders.

- both fire and police officials expressed their appreciation of the wider roads near the Sheetz intersection at state Route 170. Getting through the traffic has reportedly been easier for both departments.