As of Sunday, this was the view looking north on Black Road between Mattix and DeSellem roads in Center Township near a former landfill, where water is flooding across the road, causing Center Township trustees to close that section of road indefinitely. Trustee Rex Underwood spoke with Columbiana County commissioners about the issue Wednesday. (Submitted photo)

LISBON — Commissioner Mike Halleck offered to make a phone call to the head of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regarding a flooding issue that recently forced the closure of a portion of Black Road.

The offer was in response to an invitation from Center Township Trustee Rex Underwood to take commissioners on a field trip to the road which is under several feet of water between Mattix and DeSellem roads.

The area is next to the site of the former A & L Salvage construction and demolition debris landfill that closed in February 2009 and was permanently capped the summer of 2010 by a contractor hired by the OEPA.

Underwood addressed commissioners during their meeting Wednesday regarding the flooding issue, saying it’s a growing problem.

Halleck said there have been several conversations about the issue, but it’s a township issue and it’s in an area where three townships come together, Center, Madison and Elkrun townships. He said someone “has to come up and say this is our problem.”

He added that he understood that the OEPA wants nothing to do with it, adding “I wish we had a solution.”

“It’s going to come down to the OEPA,” Underwood said.

Halleck asked Underwood to tell them what the trustees want commissioners to do, saying if they want them to make some phone calls, they can do that.

The meeting was also attended by Center Township Trustee Greg Shive. When asked about the issue after the meeting, he said south of Mattix Road on Black Road there’s a 6-inch pipe that goes under the landfill over to state Route 45 and it’s plugged up.

He indicated the OEPA says the agency has nothing to do with the landfill property anymore.

The trustees posted a photo of the water on Black Road on their website at centertwpohio.us and said the road is closed at the dump until further notice. The message noted the township is working to find a solution, adding “it is unknown how long it will be closed.”

That section of road was closed previously in 2010 while the contractor working to cap the landfill was still working and helped to cut down a hill on Black Road and the banks near the back entrance of the landfill site in a partnership with the trustees to improve the road.

A & L Salvage became subject to several violations from the OEPA and complaints from residents over the stench of hydrogen sulfide emanating from the site before it closed.

In other business, commissioners gave permission for county Engineer Bert Dawson to advertise for bids for the 2025 bituminous material program, with electronic bids to be opened at 9 a.m. April 2 at the engineer’s garage.

Commissioners also reappointed Pastor Mark Blakeley, Wellsville, to another five-year term on the Columbiana Metropolitan Housing Authority Board, from 2025 to 2030.

The Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce received permission from commissioners to use the courthouse parking lot for the Johnny Appleseed Festival Sept. 20 and 21 this fall.

The next meeting of the commissioners will be 9 a.m. March 19 in the downtown courthouse in Lisbon.

mgreier@mojonews.com