LIBERTY - The on-again, off-again conflict between Youngstown and Liberty appears to be on again this weekend. Township Zoning Director Jim Rodway said Youngstown officials won't authorize the water connection for a new Wal-Mart Superstore until the city and township meet next week.
"No one is giving a straight answer to whether the connection will be authorized or not," Rodway said.
Trustee Jodi Stoyak said township officials hoped water connection permits would have been authorized this week so the building project could move forward.
Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said while he does not know specifics of the conversation between City Finance Director David Bozanich and K&S Engineering, he is confident that the two sides can work through any issue that may be needed to be addressed.
"As long as people keep an open mind, I don't believe this should be a problem," Williams said Friday.
Bozanich could not be reached for comment.
Liberty officials say that Youngstown is using the water road block to the Wal-Mart project, and as a strong-arm tactic to force the township to form a joint economic development district with the city.
Williams disagrees.
"As I understand it, the trustees had talked about this for a year and nothing was done," Williams said. "It sounds like there was miscommunication between the trustees."
The two sides are scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the township administration building to talk about JEDDs. Both Trustee Jack Simon and Stoyak each have previously said they are not interested in talking about a JEDD on Belmont Ave, where the new Wal-Mart store will be located.
Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins earlier this week sent a letter to Youngstown officials noting they are under a contract to provide water to Liberty through 2015.