Village seeks $100,000 grant for Blairmont Road waterline project

Councilmember RJ Konkoleski served as acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Brenda Roski at the village’s Feb. 10 meeting and introduced Resolution 2026-B authorizing an application to the Ohio Department of Development for $100,000 through the Target of Opportunity grant program.

Konkoleski said this was part of a match the village needed for their $500,000 waterline project at Blairmont Road. They were awarded a Community Development Block Grant funds, which is the part it will be coming from. The resolution was approved unanimously.

Also, Konkoleski asked Police Chief Casey Robinson about complaints regarding a house with an “unmanageable” amount of cats that live freely indoors and outside of a certain house.

“There’s no specific law saying animals can’t roam, meaning cats specifically,” Robinson answered. “Humane Society can get involved, we can get involved and try to assist them.”

Robinson explained that it comes down to finances and where people may want the problem under control, they don’t come forward to help solve it but rather seek to push it off on an organization like the Humane Society.

“It’s against the law to trap and relocate,” he continued.

Robinson said the exception would be if someone owns a farm for example, and is willing to take some of the animals for themselves. He called it a challenge but the person who has the animals in their possession is responsible for the care of them and if not, they can be charged with animal cruelty. But someone can file a lawsuit if animals become a nuisance to others, he added.

Konkoleski said he would forward information to the Jefferson County Humane Society to see what can be done for the well being of the animals.