POLAND — Village Council had a long agenda Tuesday night, but the two main issues were the trails in the village and the use of e-bikes and e-scooters.

On the trails, engineer Kyle Lukes from Environmental Design Group was on hand to give an update on both the Sheridan Road Trail and the Forest Connector.

The Sheridan Road Trail is a trail that follows Sheridan Road, where the former Youngstown-Poland trolley line used to run. The proposed trail would run along that line up to Johnston Place, then head east to state Route 616, then south to end at the Poland Public Library.

“This property goes back to the days of the trolley operations,” Lukes said. “It appears to be owned by FirstEnergy, but we are not clear on the ownership.”

There is a question about whether First Energy owns the property outright or just owns a right-of-way. Until that question is answered, the project cannot move forward.

On the Forest Connector, the trail is awaiting bridge placement. The old bridge over Yellow Creek from Poland Manor to the forest and schools, also known as the Graffiti Bridge, was removed after flood debris damaged it. Trustee Laurie LaPlante has been following the progress and said the bridge project was bid earlier on Tuesday.

“The bid opening will take place on Sept. 17, 2025,” LaPlante said. “It is to be completed by March 17, 2026.”

The 0.65-mile walking trail will be constructed alongside Village Hall and will proceed southward, eventually crossing the creek at the Graffiti Bridge site. The trail will continue along Poland Manor to one of the Poland Forest entrances.

The bridge is the present holdup since it will require heavy equipment to move the new one into place.

Poland Manor resident Mike Zetts said he has work to do on a fire pit, but will hold off until the big equipment has come and gone.

Once the new bridge is in place, the trail can be finished, but that will be next spring.

BIKES AND SCOOTERS

On the e-bike and e-scooter situation, several people spoke at the meeting.

Eleanor Zedaker said some of the young riders are traveling very fast on the sidewalks in the village.

“I am concerned about people on the sidewalks getting out of their way,” she said. “Who does have the right-of-way on the sidewalk.”

Poland Village Solicitor Jay Macejko replied with a definite “pedestrians have the right of way.”

Zedaker added that some of the young riders are not wearing safety equipment or helmets for as fast as they are traveling.

Councilman Chris Graff said he has observed some young riders on e-bikes and e-scooters blowing through stop signs.

Macejko said he is working on an ordinance that favors education. It may start with a warning to parents when a juvenile is acting dangerously on one of the electric vehicles.

“A first citation would then be a fine,” he said, “And a second time could see confiscation of the vehicle.”

Macejko said he would work on ordinances for helmet requirements and another on e-vehicles (bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc.).

He said municipalities have the right to regulate, restrict and prohibit such vehicles.

Police Chief Don Lambert told council he has clocked an e-bike doing 26 mph. He added when kids on an e-bike that is also pedal-powered see a police officer, the kids start peddling faster.

On a different matter, Lambert mentioned the rash of vehicle break-ins recently in the village. He said patrols were increased in areas that have been hit.

“These break-ins could be stopped if people would just lock their vehicles,” he said.

In other business, council:

•Approved the purchase of two new Breathalyzer machines from CMI Inc. to replace the police department’s outdated ones at a cost not to exceed $1,055.

• Was informed by Macejko the state passed a law that allows for virtual attendance at council meetings. Only the mayor and solicitor would have to be present as long as the virtual council member has both video and audio access.