Since 2019, the future of the Leavittsburg Dam has been hotly contested in the Trumbull County community.

While the Trumbull County MetroParks Board recently voted to demolish the dam, the back and forth continues on whether it should stay or go. Warren Township Trustees have recently gotten attorneys involved in an attempt to save the dam, but the clock is ticking.

The area surrounding the Leavittsburg Dam is expected to close Friday, as crews are set to begin the pre-stages of the Leavittsburg Dam Demolition Project.

"If you just took a trip down there, you can't imagine what it's like," said Trustee Ryan Yoho. "It's our own little gem here in Leavittsburg. It's just going to be an environmental nightmare."

But the Warren Township Trustees say the battle to save the dam is far from over in their eyes. They met with their recently acquired legal team to sort out their options on Thursday.

"We still stand under the public health process and criteria that they're going to cause with the removal of the dam before the sewer lines go in," Yoho said. "It's a very ugly situation and we were conferring with our attorneys on our next legal actions."

The Park Board approved the dam's removal in December,  citing ongoing safety and flooding concerns. Warren Twp. Trustees stated they are willing to negotiate with a ripple rock option but to no avail. Now trustees are attempting to issue a restraining order on the Park Board to kill some time.

"That would be a win-win for both parties," Yoho added. "It will eliminate the drowning hazard of the low-head dam and it would give the Metroparks an attraction."

The Park Board denied to interview about the trustee's potential actions but did confirm the area west of North Leavitt Rd. NW will close starting Friday.