POLAND — With a lot on its plate, Village Council dug into a long agenda at its meeting Tuesday.

Topping the list was paving the connector from Poland Manor to the Poland Manor Bridge that connects to Poland Forest. The village received a $185,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to pave the connector to make it handicap-accessible, but it came with a time limit.

The problem deals with Poland Manor Bridge, a pedestrian bridge over Yellow Creek that can serve as an access to Poland Forest and Poland Middle School. The bridge is being redone by the Mahoning County Engineer’s Office.

The Poland Manor Bridge, better known as the Graffiti Bridge, has a large sanitary sewer line attached. According to Poland Forest board member Mark Thompson, the line runs through the forest and it needed to be replaced. The county was handling the project, but the work put the village’s connector paving plan on hold.

“I am concerned,” Councilman Samuel Moffie said. “We have to have the connector paving project done by July of next year or we lose the funding.”

He said he understands the paving could not take place while the equipment needed for the bridge replacement was using the connector as access to the bridge.

Moffie said he can only hope the county finishes the bridge in time for the connector to be paved and meet the deadline.

Moving on to storm water permits, Jeff Carr from Environmental Design Group addressed the MS4 stormwater management program. He informed council members of the need to do annual reports and that the village was in violation of the MS4 permit for not reporting in prior years.

“I recommend engaging the Mahoning County Soil and Water Conservation District,” Carr said. “They could be part of the solution and can do annual reporting when it comes to stormwater.”

He also mentioned the need for the village to pass a stormwater ordinance regarding developments. That part was needed to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act.

Carr closed the topic by stating the village needs to keep the MS4 records for five years as the Ohio EPA does do audits.

Village Fiscal Officer Robert Canter Jr. brought up the village’s salt purchasing program. He said in the past, the village paid up to $90 a ton for road salt. He recommended joining the state purchasing program, which could lower the price to approximately $47 per ton, to which council agreed.

During the public comments portion, Audubon Lane resident Christina Owens spoke about Comcast working on her property.

“They block our drive, they put poles in our flower beds, and I don’t know why this is going on,” she told council. “Nobody wants the service or are using it.”

She asked why they are taking advantage of her property and if there was anything she could do about it.

Council president Michael Thompson told her to check her property deed for easements.

He said the easements should be spelled out on the deed and what rights she and the utility have.

“We don’t regulate easements,” Village Solicitor Jay Macejko said.

In other business, council:

● Approved a handicapped accessible portable toilet for Fireman’s Field for the summer months at a cost not to exceed $1,564.

● Approved a donation of $500 to American Legion Post 15 for the annual Memorial Day ceremony.

● Informed residents that Ohio Edison is continuing to change electric meters in the village to the newer “smart meters.”