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Trumbull County Commissioners pledged to look for ways to pay for the balance needed by Warren Township to pay for an independent study on the need to eliminate the Leavittsburg dam that is being advocated by the Trumbull Metroparks Board.
Warren Township resident Debbie Roth asked the commissioners to support the funding for the study.
"The commissioners would place the health and safety of the community of the utmost importance," she said.
All of the commissioners attended a Wednesday night meeting sponsored by Warren Township Trustees and the group "Our Lives Count," discussing the Trumbull County Parks Board plan to have the dam removed.
The group expressed concerns about the environmental and ecological impact the removal of the dam would have on the community if the Mahoning River level was lowered.
Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa noted the only way they will get to the bottom of the discussion about the elimination of the dam is to have an independent study done and to look at alternatives.
"If the study comes back there are alternatives, at least we will know the answers," he said. "Judging by the community yesterday and the passion and the people that were there. That's just a fraction of the people. They are up in arms. They are constituents."
Cantalamessa said many Warren Township residents feel their concerns have not been heard on this issue.
"We have to act on something," he said. "We need to continue to communicate and share information. If that means doing another study for them to look at, then I'm for it."
Commissioner Niki Frenchko said something should have happened years ago.
"I don't know if they can put the brakes on it," Frenchko said. "I agree on doing it. Is it going to be a waste of time? I don't know how we get them to stop."
Roth asked them to stop funding the Metroparks board if they don't put the brakes on the project.
Commission President Denny Malloy would like to have a special meeting by the commissioners.
Frenchko made a motion to stop funding the Metroparks board's ability to be represented by the county prosecutor's office for a dollar a year.
"That's going to do nothing," Cantalamessa said. "They are not using the prosecutor's office for this project. They have their own attorney."
Malloy added that not allowing the prosecutor's office to represent the Metroparks board would potentially cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, because they would have to hire outside attorneys for every legal action and the county would have to pay for those services.
Frenchko told members of Warren Township to picket Judge James Fredericka.
Roth asked the commissioners to caution the Metroparks board to wait until the study is completed.
Frenchko asked Roth if the township would file an American Rescue Plan Act application to provide the funds for the study.
Roth admitted the township had not filed for ARP funds, but could consider doing so. However, she added, because their time is limited she is concerned about whether the funds would be approved on time to stop the project from going forward.
"It needs to stop before they take it out," she said.
Cantalamessa said the money for the study should come from the county's general fund budget, so long as the county's prosecutor agreed it is legal to take it from those accounts.
County Assistant Prosecutor Bill Danso said they may not be able to represent the county or the Metroparks board, because they have represented both sides.
Danso said they will have to research if there is a conflict.
County Auditor Martha Yoder said money is available to provide the $30,000 being requested. However, she added, if they are planning to ask for ARP money to be used there is a limited amount still available and there are a lot of requests that still have not been processed.
Yoder said the county's ARP attorney is backlogged and it may be faster to provide the funding through other means.
Warren Township Trustee Kay Anderson described collecting more than 800 signatures against the removal of the dam.
"We have been fighting this for two years," Anderson said. "We appreciate Trumbull County Engineer Randy Smith for promising to provide 10% of the $30,000 needed."