Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Canfield City residents attended the Canfield Township meeting to again address the annexation of 11.1 acres at the end of Laurel Hills Lane. Addressing trustees is Jim Pepperney. At right is Canfield Township Administrator Keith Rogers.

CANFIELD TOWNSHIP — Several township residents attended Tuesday’s trustee’s meeting to continue challenging the annexation of 11.1 acres at the end of Laurel Hills Lane and Savannah Court.

However, this time, the complaint took a different turn.

“Trucks are dumping on township property. That’s why I am here,” city resident Jim Pepperney said.

Chris Vecchione, who also complained about dumping, supported Pepperney’s claim.

Both men said big trucks came down the street and dumped debris onto the property, which now lies in the township. Pepperney said it is a bad sight to see for the neighbors, whose properties are in the city.

Vecchione said everyone on the street has been trying to keep on top of the annexation request made by developer OnMark Communities LLC. A previous application for annexation was denied at the county level because the paperwork was not filled out properly. Neighbors believe a new application will be submitted soon, but there is one issue.

“Certified letters about the annexation meeting were said to have been sent to neighboring residents, but residents said they received no such letter,” Vecchione said. “They claim the letters were sent out, but no one received one. We found out about it through contractor friends.”

Trustee Marie Cartwright encouraged Vecchione and Pepperney to get in touch with the Mahoning County commissioners and inform them about the letters.

“I would encourage you to ask the commissioners why letters weren’t sent,” Cartwright said. “By statute, that must be done.”

Resident Patty Billec asked what would happen to the property if it remained in the township. She asked, “Is it out of your hands?”

Cartwright said the township has zoning regulations and fire district regulations. She said when there are a certain number of homes on a street, there has to be more than one way in and out. There are 47 homes on Laurel Hills and Savannah Court.

Regarding the dumping on the 11-acre site, Township Administrator Keith Rogers said there has been a police report filed and an investigation is being conducted. He said the sheriff has the name of the person dumping.

“What we need to do is find out from the property owner if permission to dump was granted,” Rogers said.

He said if permission was given, the property owner could be cited as well. He said some of the debris went into a retention pond.

In other business, trustees unanimously approved a motion to purchase a new 2023 Ford F-550 1-ton truck with a plow package. The total cost for the new truck and plow package is $123,955. The 2019 truck that it is replacing is being sold to Poland Township for $32,000.

It was mentioned in the motion the trade-in value had dropped since the original truck was ordered 12 months ago, making it financially sound to sell the old truck outright to Poland Township.

Bids for paving the roads and parking lot at Dean Hill Cemetery were also discussed. The four bids included the low bid of $17,000 by Blacktop Specialists, a $19,810 bid by Conner Asphalt, R.T. Vernal’s bid of $22,575, and Iron Eagle’s bid of $22,795. The bid will be decided on at the next regular meeting Feb. 27.

jtwhitehouse@vindy.com