LORDSTOWN — The village is seeking grant monies from CSX to be used for installing advanced warning signals at railroad crossings to alert drivers and pedestrians about oncoming trains.

Mayor Jackie Woodward told village council at Monday’s council meeting of plans to seek grants of $5,000 per sign for the flashing warning signals.

She said the signals will inform motorists near a railroad crossing that there is an approaching train or one already at the crossing.

Woodward said this would allow the motorists to either decide to wait ahead or turn around and seek an alternate route.

The village would need to pay for the signals, but can be reimbursed $5,000 each with grant money.

“We are going to go forward with applying for the grants,” she said.

Woodward said the signals are similar to the ones used for people approaching a school zone.

She said there would be two signals for Salt Springs Road.

Clerk Bill Blank said the signals may make motorists angry, to which members of council said they are already angry when they sit and wait for a train to cross the tracks at different locations in the village.

Fire Chief Travis Eastham said this would alert emergency vehicles that need to get through.

In other business, council members who in March attended a presentation by Brian Frantz on data centers, zoning codes and land use plans are discussing having Frantz be contracted for professional consulting services.

Woodward said officials can review hiring Frantz at an hourly rate.

Councilman Ron Radtka said some ordinance changes can be made to have a conditional use in place to deal with data centers.

Councilman Mark McGrail said the conditional use permits would set guidelines on the use of land for data centers.

‘We could prohibit an area for land use for a data center or make it allowable under certain conditions,” McGrail said.

He said the moratorium committee will make a recommendation to council on the matter.

“Having a land use plan in place is an objectionable measure that can be used to defend our planning and zoning ordinances. The law looks at whether ordinances that are in place are arbitrary or have some rational basis to protect the safety and welfare of the community,”

Ries said.

Ries said the village is waiting for a decision by the Ohio Supreme Court on whether the village will grant a permit to Bristolville 25 Developer LLC. He said he expects a decision in two to three months.

In other business, Woodward said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging community members to get involved with cleaning up the Commerce Center area off Tod Avenue.

The area was formally known as the Lordstown Depot.

One way is to serve on a board to address the restoration and clean-up of the area.

Community interest forms are available at the village administration building to serve on the restoration advisory board.

Members would put in 20 hours per year to gather and facilitate information to the community.

Woodward said CSX is also planning to attend a future planning commission meeting to submit site plans for review of a planned parking lot project.