County likely to fund Leavittsburg dam study

Commissioners expected to OK up to $30K for project

WARREN -- Two of three Trumbull County commissioners likely will vote today to approve providing up to $30,000 for a study that will look at possible alternatives to the elimination of the Leavittsburg dam.

The commissioners met with members of the Trumbull County MetroParks board and residents for more than two hours following their weekly workshop meeting. The meeting provided some history of the dam removal project and allowed each side to provide its perspectives.

Township residents and other interested organizations also noted their concerns about the dam removal.

Commissioners last week were advised by attorney Thomas Wilson they could use county funds to pay for a study that will be done by DLZ Engineering to determine the environmental impact of the removal of the Leavittsburg dam in Warren Township.

Since the study was not being done in connection with a county project on land that does not belong to the county, officials were concerned they could not legally use taxpayer money to pay for the study requested by Warren Township trustees.

Trustees and their supporters were concerned that studies previously done by engineers hired by the MetroParks Board and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency were too geared to the removal of the dam, while not considering possible reasons to maintain the dam.

Commission President Denny Malloy noted he wanted to come up with the best decision for the county.

Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa emphasized the elimination or maintenance of the Leavittsburg dam is not the county's responsibility, but they want to make sure every side has an opportunity to be heard.

"There are possible health, safety and recreational concerns," he said. "The concerns run across the gamut."

Zachary Svette, executive director of the metroparks, said the board acquired the dam in 1993.

"There have been approaches over the years about the removal of the dam, but that was not consistent until there was a regional effort," he said.

Warren Township trustee Kay Anderson said trustees have been very vocal in their opposition about the removal of the dam since 2019.

"We were never involved in the studies (to remove the dam)," Anderson said. "People are upset. This affects our community a lot."

Anderson noted there are three Trumbull County department heads who have questions about the removal of the dam.

"We asked the commissioners if you would pay for part of the study to look at an alternative," she said. "We felt that previous studies were very one sided."

Svette said there was a research project by MS Consultants that had previously done a hydraulic study looking at the water levels if the dam was to be removed.

When questioned about the money already spent on the proposed dam removal project, Svette noted there has been about $100,000 spent. However, he added, by the end of the year, at the current rate, approximately $700,000 in grant money will be spent.

Attorney Tom Smith questioned why the trustees were not invited to the MetroParks board meetings that discussed the dam removal. MetroParks board members said all of its meetings are open to the public and trustees could have attended any of them.

Malloy suggested it would have been logical for the metroparks board to directly invite the trustees to the discussions.

Kurt Sauer, a member of the metroparks board, said water quality on the Mahoning River has been studied since 1996.

"With the demise of the industries on the water and the rise of EPA regulations, these low-head dams have become obsolete," Sauer said. "This whole project involves about nine dams that includes the Lowellville dam all the way to ours, which is the northern most or upstream one, and has been promulgated by the EPA and the ODNR over the past 25 to 30 years. When they approached us to undertake this removal, we accepted it as a naturally occurring undertaking that would be beneficial for all.

"Maybe we overlooked that there would be some people that would not be enthused, happy or supportive," he continued. "We did not think there was a need to specifically reach out to specific individuals."

Other dams that are being or have been removed include Struthers, Lowellville, Warren, Youngstown and Girard. Some industrial dams are not being removed.

Malloy said the water levels in the Mahoning River would be cut in half from eight feet to four feet. He noted that lowering the water levels would negatively affect recreational boating and activity on the docks.

Board member Nicolette Darkangelo said they are not basing the elimination of the dam on recreational opportunities.

"We are looking at the health of the river," she said.

Several people questioned the dredging of the river, so it doesn't affect the pollution that is lying beneath the water.

Svette described the dam removal project as being funded by the city of Akron. He questioned if the county delayed or canceled the dam removal what would be the cost that the park board will have to repay to Akron for not using the grant by 2025 as required.

Board member John Brown said they would remove the sediment in the water before the dam is removed.

Warren Township Trustee Edward Anthony questioned the need to remove the dam.

"Unless you think there is structural damage to the dam there is no reason to remove the dam and you don't want to assume the liability for the dam," he said. "I know our residents have great concerns. Find an alternative or let the dam remain. There is no economic benefit to remove it."

Anthony said residents collected more than 800 signatures in two days and could collect more than 2,000 over the next few days.

Svette said the grant obtained can only be used for its removal. Malloy said the majority of the phone calls he has received about the dam is supportive of maintaining the dam.

Shawn Shook, a Trumbull County resident, questioned if the park board has the ability to stop the project.

"If they can't stop the process then what is the point?" he said. "We know there are people that are for the project and there are people against it."

Dave Little, a township resident, questioned what will happen to his property value if the Mahoning River becomes a creek.

"No one will give you a break on your property taxes," Malloy said.

Debbie Roth noted the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources have not looked at the health benefits of removing the dam to Warren Township residents.

"There has been no study looking at health,"she said. "The water is clean. We have walleye and mussels."