LORDSTOWN — A village resident said he and other residents are concerned about the loud noises coming from both the Lordstown Energy Center and Trumbull Energy Center, but officials noted there is very little they can do to prevent the noise.

Mark McGrail of Goldner Lane, who spoke at Tuesday’s village council meeting and also sent messages to village officials, said he has recorded the noise levels and they are much higher than the 40 decibels allowed. Both plants are near his home.

“I see the noise issues as an ongoing problem. I am asking the village council to be proactive in addressing this,” McGrail said, asking the officials to purchase two sound meters to record data for enforcement of the zoning code, which deals with noise violations.

“The noise at times is extremely loud,” McGrail said.

Police Chief Brent Milhoan said there are already two sound meters near the plant, but were advised by the previous Solicitor Paul Dutton that police were not going to respond to the noise complaints and calls from the power plant. Officials said it is not the police department’s job to monitor the sound meters.

Milhoan said residents with noise concerns were advised to call the Ohio Power Siting Board, which approved the plants’ location.

Solicitor Matt Ries said any violation of the certification given to the plants by the OPSB must be made to that board. Councilman Jamie Moseley said he has called the OPSB about noise issues, but noted little is ever done.

“They don’t care about the noise or the residents. I have called many times and you get nowhere,” Moseley said.

Planning / Zoning Administrator Kellie Bordner said the most she can do over a noise complaint is issue a violation, which is a minor misdemeanor.

She said noise level complaints are often difficult to determine.

“It is not that we won’t do anything, but our authority is usurped by a higher state authority,” Bordner said.

VIDEO MEETINGS

In other business, Mayor Jackie Woodward said she would like to begin having council meetings as well as board of public affairs and zoning board meetings video recorded and then made available for public viewing on YouTube. She said the village has the camera, microphone, speakers and video equipment to record the meetings. Woodward said the meetings would not be streamed live, but recorded and then uploaded for public viewing shortly after.

Councilman Robert Bond, who said he was in favor of recording the meetings, recommended it be reviewed by council committee on who would upload the recorded meetings.

“This has been something that has been discussed for 10 years. We have had the equipment available,” Bond said.

Also, council voted 4-2 to accept a bid of $418,600 from Building Technicians Corp. of Madison for two roof removals and then replacements at the Kunkel Building. Moseley and Councilwoman Jessica Blank cast the “no” votes.

Blank said while she understands the work needs to be done, the cost was high. She suggested tearing the building down, but officials said that also would be costly along, with asbestos removal costs.

Councilman Lamar Liming said the roofs are needed.

Fire Chief Travis Eastham said fire equipment such as a rescue boat are inside the building and drywall has been falling it.

Council also heard from resident Patricia Conrad of South Leavitt Road who asked what materials will be made at the Foxconn property now that it will be a data facility. Bordner said a planning commission meeting on the property and their site plan review application is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16. She said she understands the location would be producing AI components that would go into a data center.