Stark County taking legal action against railroad companies. See why

Grace Springer, Canton Repository
·3 min read
A worker steps off an R.J. Corman Railroad Group locomotive preparing to transport tanker cars southbound down the Cleveland Line.
A worker steps off an R.J. Corman Railroad Group locomotive preparing to transport tanker cars southbound down the Cleveland Line.

SUGAR CREEK TWP. − Disputes with two railroad companies have delayed work on a Sugar Creek sanitary sewer project. Now, Stark County has filed legal complaints against them.

The companies, R.J. Corman and Ohio Central Railroad, both have two crossings in the scope of the project. To start work, the county needs to acquire the land from the companies.

"We've been unable to reach an agreement as to the value of those interests," Stark County Assistant Prosecutor John Lysenko said. "Over a period of months, we've tried to work it out."

Lysenko said he has been back and forth with both companies, but they have been unable to agree on a price.

R.J. Corman, based in Nicholasville, Kentucky, wanted $23,400 for its two crossings, which it said would pay costs for their engineer and construction oversight fees, Lysenko said. He said the county had the value of the R.J. Corman crossings appraised at $540.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said: "R.J. Corman Railroad Co. operates 19 short-line railroads in the U.S. and is experienced in working with the federal government, states, and municipalities throughout the U.S. on public projects and projects of public interest.

"We have every intention of continuing to cooperate professionally with Stark County in this matter to the reasonable satisfaction of all involved."

The company said it could not comment further at this time.

For Ohio Central, which is based in Coshocton, the county appraised its crossings at $550, but the company asked for $12,800 along with a list of "entirely unacceptable" conditions, Lysenko said.

A spokesperson for Ohio Central said they "are reviewing the matter carefully and hope for an amicable resolution in the near-term." The company said it could not elaborate further because it is an ongoing legal matter.

Jim Troike, Stark County sanitary engineer, said the dispute has delayed the start of work on the project.

After negotiations with the companies fell through, the county commissioners passed a resolution to appropriate the land to begin work on the sewer project.

Attorneys for the county commissioners have filed legal complaints against the companies in Stark County Probate Court. Complaints state that the county has the right to appropriate lands for public improvement and the county commissioners have taken all necessary steps under Ohio law.

The county has filed to appropriate the lands.

Lysenko said the sewer project should have minimal impact on the railroad companies' operations.

"The sewers we're putting in are not going to impact the railroad tracks at all. ... It's going quite far underneath the tracks," he said. "I don't think there's any cost to the railroad going forward. ... This is a well thought out project, and we don't envision any issues."

Sewer project in Justus and Harmon, Sugar Creek

Troike said the Justus and Harmon areas in Sugar Creek Township have failing septic systems identified as a high priority by the Stark County Health Department and a study by the Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization.

The study showed the areas, particularly Harmon, had E. coli bacteria over the allowable limit, posing a threat to local water quality.

The sewer project would extend public sanitary sewers to service the Justus and Harmon areas, which will service about 90 homes and businesses.

Troike said the project is funded through American Rescue Plan funds, meaning the project must be under contract by the end of 2024. The county then has until the end of 2026 to complete the project.

The project has been pushed back because of disputes with the railroad companies.

"The railroads have been dragging us along," Troike said. "We're anxious to get started."

The sewer project is expected to go out to bid next month.

"We're going to continue on," Troike said. "We'll see what happens in the courts with the crossings of the railroads."

Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County files complaints with R.J. Corman, Ohio Central railroads