LORDSTOWN — Village resident Edward Rovnak of Tod Avenue has filed a lawsuit against the village in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court seeking injunctive relief after village council ruled that his business at 6730 state Route 45 be removed and demolished.

The business, Bake King Food Service Equipment LLC, obtains, refurbishes and resells commercial equipment to restaurants. In addition to the village, Mayor Jackie Woodward and fire Chief Travis Eastham are named in the lawsuit.

Rovnak is seeking a declaratory judgment for violation of due process and injunctive relief, claiming the village illegally passed an ordinance in 2025 declaring his property “insecure, unsafe and structurally defective” and ordered that the property be demolished.

Rovnak claims in the suit that the village condemned a structure worth $300,000 while officials knew the property was for sale. He said he had no notice until after the village issued its demolition order, claiming there was no prior inspection, no due process and no pertinent interactions.

In the suit, Rovnak states the village planning commission in 2012 approved the company for operations by approving “a site plan review not involving new construction.”

There have been various zoning violations assessed to the premises over the years. Rovnak has paid those fines, and the village has never cited him again him for past citations.

In September, the village planning and zoning office cited Rovnak for various zoning violations, which he appealed to the Lordstown Board of Zoning Appeals.

In December, village council passed an ordinance condemning the premises and for the removal and demolition of the building.

Rovnak claims his due process was violated because he was never sent any prior notice of council’s actions and claims he did not have an opportunity to be heard.

Woodward said the court has issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the demolition of the building.

She said Rovnak was not happy with the decision of the board of zoning appeals and sought court action to prevent the building from being torn down. Woodward said the fire chief declared the property unfit for human habitation, and council also passed an ordinance declaring the structure unfit and a nuisance.

She said the village was planning to work with the Trumbull Land Bank on taking over the property. Woodward said the building was previously used as an IGA store.