WARREN — The city is seeking funds from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry grant program to remove dead trees and plant new ones in parts of the community.

City council gave final reading at their meeting last week to seek up to $100,000 to help address dead tree removal and new tree planting.

Warren Safety / Service Director Eddie Colbert said there have been trees in parts of the city that have fallen, including one that fell on a park restroom building and caused $15,000 in damage.

Officials said plans are to partner with Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership and identify trees that need to be taken down before nature brings them down with strong wind and severe storms.

The grant reportedly helps support urban tree planting and forestry management.

In other business, council approved proceeding with an opioid settlement agreement between the settling states and local governments and pharmaceutical businesses.

Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa said the global settlement of $1.1 billion will be from eight different pharmaceutical companies. He said it has not yet been determined how much Warren and many other communities across the country will receive.

Cantalamessa said the passage of the ordinance indicates that Warren wants to be included in the distribution of settlement funds when they are determined.

Auditor Vincent Flask said a new fund has been established specifically for the funds.

Cantalamessa said one condition of receiving the settlement funds is for council and officials to not publicly “bash the companies” at meetings.

“It is good for us to participate in the settlement agreement, but don’t throw stones,” he said.

VAPE BUSINESS

City resident Ken Conklin said he and other residents in the Crescent and Perkinwoods drive area are upset that a vape store will be on Montclair Street near the residential neighborhood.

“This is unacceptable. We have young families with children playing outside. A vape store in a residential area is certainly not welcome or wanted,” Conklin said.

He asked council to put a hold on the vape store, noting another one is located a short distance from where the new store wants to locate. Officials said the vape store was open but then closed by the city for failing to have the proper permits.

No one at the meeting spoke about the possibility of the store opening again.

In other business at the Wednesday meeting, council:

* Approved a purchase agreement for a new $90,000 mini bobcat track loader for the operations department that will be used to help when trees fall over or when trimming brush. Officials said there will be attachments to use along shore lines and other locations where there are trees and vegetation.

* Heard from Colbert said the city established a Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) with the first event taking place earlier this month.

* Heard from resident Janet Hazlett the Western Reserve Transit Authority is on track to provide nearly 200,000 rides this year. As of the end of May, there have been 90,279 riders.