LIBERTY TWP, Ohio - Logging in Liberty has some folks calling for township trustees to take action.

 

They say piles of branches left there pose a fire risk.

 

Neighbors on Academy Drive complain limbs piled from 6 to 10 feet high are stacked so close to their property lines they fear their homes could be consumed in a fire, their lives put in jeopardy.

 

"It's unsightly, it's dangerous. As you know 70 acres in Champion went up in flames several weeks ago," Susanne Miller said.

 

She went on to say if there were a fire and a north wind her home would be toast.

 

"I'm very concerned about the fire hazard myself," William Tenney said.

 

"I would ask that more pressure be put on the logging company itself to get that job done to make sure our public's health, welfare, and safety is taken care of," Jeff Kurz emphasized.

 

Trustees say the owners of the property have assured them the timber logging company is going back to do the clean-up work.

 

But residents want a time frame saying they have been patient long enough that the timber was cut last November and seven months later the mess of branches, tree limbs, and trees cut down are still there.

 

Some residents have called the Ohio Fire Marshal's Office and Ohio lawmakers asking them to change state laws regarding logging and clean up of harvested timber sites. 

 

Miller wants lawmakers to make a 3 to 20-foot setback from homes for logging and piling branches. 

 

Liberty Trustee Arnold Cleborn said the owner has said he intends to have the stumps ground down, the area leveled for the lot, and seeds planted to help with the aesthetics. 

 

But folks say before that can happen the piles of debris must go. 

 

"I think the state Fire Marshal is involved, Senator O'Brien was here today looking at it. We also have Representative Santucci looking into it, so if it's not taken care of we do have an avenue to take care of it through state laws," said Trustee Cleborn.