Warren Trustees Plan Appeal After Leavittsburg Dam Removal Lawsuit Dismissal

Warren Township Trustees, along with Trumbull County Commissioners, have decided to file an appeal after a Trumbull County judge dismissed their lawsuit seeking to halt the removal of the Leavittsburg Dam. The dam removal, owned by Trumbull County MetroParks, is part of the Mahoning River Corridor Revitalization Plan, aimed at restoring the river to a natural, free-flowing state, and is funded by over $4.8 million in state grants. The lawsuit raised concerns about riverbank instability, damage to roadways, and exposed sewage systems, but the judge ruled these issues were either already existing or would be mitigated by the MetroParks and the contractor. The court also emphasized the potential harm to grant funders and contractors if the project was delayed and found no sufficient evidence for a preliminary injunction. Trustees indicated urgency in filing the appeal as the dam removal is scheduled to begin soon. Despite local concerns, the judge's ruling supports proceeding with the dam removal under the current revitalization plan.