CANFIELD TOWNSHIP — Joe and Darlene MacBenn attended the Canfield trustees meeting Tuesday to continue their attempts to use property they own on U.S. Route 224 just west of the city.

The MacBenns purchased property at 7185 and 7195 Akron-Canfield Road more than 40 years ago as a retirement investment.

When the couple, both retired Newton Falls teachers, decided to use the investment, they found out it was split between the city and the township.

The eastern portion of the property contains a block building that used to house a vehicle repair garage.

The western portion of the property contained a house with an unusual circumstance attached.

The house was sitting in the township, but when one stepped out the back door onto a deck, it was city property. The entire rear of both properties was in the city limits.

The couple attended several city and township meetings over the past two years to try to get water and sewer to the property so it could be used.

The problem was the city would not give water to a property in the township unless it was annexed into the city.

They couldn’t annex into the city because it would create an island for a neighboring property.

As of now, the property, house and commercial building are unusable without water and sewer. Darlene MacBenn said she and her husband are continuing to try to find a way to use it, but in the meantime, also are trying to cut their property taxes.

“I wanted to come here and thank Marie Cartwright and Tracy DeCapua for coming to the Mahoning County Board of Revisions when I asked for a reduction in property taxes,” she said.

Cartwright told Darlene MacBenn she had considered their situation and came up with some thoughts on the matter. She said the city can’t prevent the MacBenns from tapping into the sewer. As for the water, Cartwright presented her idea for a commercial project.

“Consider building on city property and put the parking lot and signage on the township property,” she said. “The city would have to give you water.”

In other business, Canfield Township Trustee Chairman Brian Governor said a meeting is needed to discuss marijuana dispensaries in the township.

He said officials need to talk about the route they should go on the matter.

He also noted there needs to be a discussion about junk vehicles. A meeting is set for 8 a.m. July 26 for the discussion.

Also Tuesday, trustees:

l Voted to approve Thomas Fok and Associates as the engineering firm for the 2024 OPWC grant application process at a cost not to exceed $16,500.

l Approved Lindy Paving Inc. of New Galilee, Pa. for the 2024 road paving program at a cost not to exceed $683,904.85. The paving program will include all of Villa Rosa, Sperone, Woodland, Mission Hills, Augusta Hills and Chapel Hills drives.

l Approved giving All-Spec Heating and Cooling LLC of Canfield replacing the furnace and condensing unit at Canfield Township Hall at a cost not to exceed $6,900.

l Gave approval to add a third speed table on Tyler Drive to be installed by Conner Asphalt Inc. at a cost not to exceed $3,750.

l Approved an increase for the administrative assistant from $17.52 per hour to $18.92 per hour retroactive to May 31.

l Approved declaring nuisance properties at 4055 Fairway Drive and 8051 Herbert Road and requiring abatement of the nuisance.

l Approved the rules and regulations for Cornersburg Union Cemetery to prohibit future interments, inurnment and sales of lots. Since cemetery records don’t ensure an exact burial site for those buried there, future interments would endanger public health or offend public sensibilities, making it not possible to make additional lots available.