LORDSTOWN — Village officials are reviewing options for the Kunkel building off Route 45 and whether to sell it or have it taken down, possibly by the Ohio National Guard as a training exercise.

Village Mayor Jackie Woodward said at Monday’s council meeting that she will contact officials with the Ohio National Guard engineering company, which would be able to do the demolition of the Kunkel building if that is the option officials decide on.

“That would provide the Ohio National Guard with a training exercise,” she said.

Woodward said if officials want the vacant building taken down, this would be an option to help the village.

She said the project could be done this fall or next year.

Village Planning/Zoning Administrator Kellie Bordner said the Trumbull County Land Bank also deals with property demolitions.

She said working with the Ohio National Guard would be “a reasonable option.”

Clerk Bill Blank said whatever council decides, legislation will need to be passed by council indicating who is doing the demolition if that option is selected.

He asked Woodward to contact Ohio National Guard officials to learn what would be involved for them to do the work and what costs they would absorb.

Woodward said she will see if there would be any costs to the village.

Councilwoman Jessica Blank said she received an email indicating the costs for labor and equipment would be absorbed by the Ohio National Guard.

“We will look at all avenues before a decision is made,’ Woodward said.

In another matter, Woodward asked what the process is to get a home that was set for demolition off the demo list after the property owners make the needed repairs and rehabilitation so that it is no longer a nuisance violation.

She said there is a property on Salt Springs Road that was rehabbed, so it no longer needs to be on the demolition list of the Trumbull Land Bank.

Fire Chief Travis Eastham said the property was checked again and brought up to code with prior violations addressed and corrected.

Bordner said in the past, there have been other properties that were nuisances but then fixed. She said it would not be a problem to pull a rehabbed house from the demo list.

“In the 16 years I have been inspecting houses,” Eastham said, “there have only been two houses torn down. People have fixed houses to code in a reasonable amount of time. We will work with the homeowners.”

EPA PERMIT

In other business, officials said they are expecting a decision from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regarding a discharge renewal permit for Clean Energy Future Trumbull.

Woodward said the permit should be approved and processed by May 1.

In March, a public hearing was held with village officials and residents urging the EPA not to grant a permit, citing concerns of potential discharge into Mud Creek.

Woodward said it appears the EPA is ruling in favor of the company.

Solicitor Matt Ries said, based on comments he read from the EPA, the permit will be renewed.

“There should be a formal decision this week. We will wait for the decision. There is an appeal process through the Environmental Appeals Board,” Ries said.