Trending
LORDSTOWN -- It does not appear a mayor's court in the village will be happening as officials stated it is best that cases be handled at Newton Falls Municipal Court.
Resident Danielle Watson said at Monday's council meeting that a mayor's court has been discussed in the past and asked if officials are considering it for the future. Watson said this would help keep some money in the village through court fines.
Mayor Jackie Woodward said she has spoken to McDonald Mayor Ray Lewis about its mayor's court, which takes place at a specific time in the day and evening once a month to handle minor issues such as traffic citations and small claims matters.
"This has not been discussed in council," she said, noting larger cases would be sent to Newton Falls court.
Councilman Terry Campbell said there needs to be a prosecutor to handle the court cases, which is what the village does in Newton Falls court. Woodward said she is not in favor of a mayor's court, noting the way Lordstown cases are handled in Newton Falls has been working fine.
She said if it was necessary to have a mayor's court, she would do it, but she would be required to take courses and training.
"This is not something I have been looking to do right now. I feel unless what we are doing is broken, don't fix it," she said.
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA
In other business, council gave first reading to banning the cultivation, distribution, processing and sale of recreational marijuana and adult-use cannabis in the village.
Councilman Robert Bond suggested the ordinance receive an emergency passage, while Woodward and members of council recommended it receive three readings.
An attempt to pass it as an emergency received a 4-2 vote, which is not enough to suspend the three-readings rule.
Bond said residents of the village voted against a state issue making recreational marijuana legal. The issue received overall state approval.
He said he wants to make sure the ordinance gets in place to prevent anyone from getting such an establishment approved before final reading.
Planning / Zoning Administrator Kellie Bordner said no one so far has inquired about permits or information for any establishments
The matter will be addressed at the May 20 meeting.
Also, resident Ray Kovac of Hallock Young Road asked if a left turn lane traffic signal can be set up at North Bailey and Hallock Young roads because many trucks and other vehicles coming from North Jackson are coming at a high rate of speed and not always seeing the left turn lane.
Officials said they will look into the matter.
Council also approved the police department helping other departments, with the village donating three mobile data terminal tablets to Champion police and four mobile data terminal tablets to Hubbard Township police.
Council also approved the sale of three stun weapons, along with extra batteries, cartridges and used holsters to North Jackson police for $600.