BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Meeting on Monday night, Boardman Township Trustees heard three residents who live near a new Dairy Queen at Brookfield Ave. and Market St. complain the business is impacting their privacy, and also creating potential safety issues.
      Brian Perry, who lives in a home next to the Dairy Queen, told Trustees Tom Costello, Brad Calhoun and Larry Moliterno that parking lot lighting from the business shines into the home, loud music blares from the business intercom, and he and his family are constantly bothered with noise (including music blaring from cars) from patrons who use the drive-up order window.
      Another nearby resident, Dan Craig, of 6535 Glendale Ave., said traffic flows in the neighborhood have increased since the business opened.
      “It’s gotten to be a nuisance,” Craig said, adding motorists often fail to obey traffic signs and that creates potential safety issues, particularly for children.
      Craig noted “kids can’t play,” and during rainfalls, water from the Dairy Queen parking lot flows into Brookfield Ave.
      Perry’s wife, Meghan, added there are traffic jams in front of her home, adding “My house is not a home anymore.”
      “I agree, you have lost your privacy,” acting zoning director Marilyn Kenner said, adding an effort will be made to get a fence erected between the Dairy Queen and the Perry’s residence.
      Kenner said a letter had been sent to the Dairy Queen requesting the volume be turned down on the intercom system at the business.
      Additionally, Kenner said the Ohio Department of Transportation would not allow an entrance to the Dairy Queen off Market St.
      “ODOT made the business close that entrance,” Kenner said.
      Trustee Larry Moliterno told the Perrys and Mr. Craig, “We recognize your problem, you have every right to be concerned.”
      A resident of Tippecanoe Rd., Melinda Rulli, complained about Mill Creek Park enlarging a parking lot, as well as adding a public restroom on Pinewood Dr. at Boardman-Canfield Rd., saying the project will invade the serenity of Pinewood residents.
      “People’s basic property rights are being violated,” Rulli said, noting the entrance to the parking lot will be off Pinewood Dr., a residential street.
      Joel Cohn, of 543 Pierce Dr. complained a guard rail had been removed from Lockwood United Methodist Church, allowing Pierce Dr. to now be used as a cut-through to Lockwood Blvd. crating traffic flow issues in that neighborhood.
      Noting the township has no authority to place guard rail to block a road, Trustees pledged to help Cohn with his concerns in any manner in which they can.