Residents tell Struthers City Council lawn-care business parking, alleged harassment and zoning worry neighborhood

Multiple residents raised complaints about a lawn-care business and related neighborhood impacts during public comment at the June 11 Struthers City Council meeting.

Scott Kavecki of 433 Sixth Street told the council that after a recent sale a lawn-care business began parking numerous vehicles and trailers at the lot and that one employee appears to be sleeping in a car near the property. Kavecki said the activity is creating what he described as a junkyard condition and asked how the city would respond.

Tina Carmen of 422 Sixth Street told the council she called police after an incident in which the owner of the lawn-care business pulled up behind her house and took a photograph of her backyard. Carmen said she filed a police report and that officers conducted a welfare check earlier when a worker was sleeping in a car in front of her home. "I don't take being threatened lightly," Carmen said, and asked the council to take action. She said she has footage and that a police report was referred to detectives to determine whether harassment occurred.

Council or city staff members responded that the city will have the code enforcement officer investigate the property and that residents are welcome to attend the enforcement meeting. Officials instructed the resident to gather a neighborhood petition if neighbors oppose any proposed zoning change and to give the petition to the city clerk for inclusion in council correspondence. The transcript indicates staff advised that a zoning change would require review by the zoning board, a public hearing and then a council vote on any recommendation.

Another resident, Steve Senich of 985 Garfield Street, asked the council about the status of dispensary tax revenues and whether the city is pursuing recovery of funds; council members responded that the administration has been working on getting those tax dollars returned to the city but did not provide a timeline at the meeting.

Council staff said code enforcement will meet with residents and said copies of the residents’ letters would be made and filed. No formal council vote or ordinance was taken on the zoning or enforcement matters at the June 11 meeting; the transcript records that a code-enforcement meeting was to be scheduled and that the resident should bring signed petitions and documentation to the clerk.

The council closed public comment and reminded attendees about an upcoming finance and legislation committee meeting scheduled for June 18 at 6 p.m.