More than two-dozen residents have signed a petition requesting that semi-tractor trailers be restricted from traveling on Bond Street in Niles Township.

Akos Kovach, who lives at 1515 Bond St., was one of several people who spoke about the issue during the public comment portion of Monday’s regular meeting of the Niles Township Board of Trustees.

Kovach said Bond Street was not built to endure the weight of heavy trucks coming from nearby businesses that use the road on a daily basis.

He said the truck traffic poses a danger to children, causes excessive noise and results in damage to the roadway.

He, and other residents of Bond Street, asked the board of trustees to consider placing signage reading, “no thru trucks,” at certain places on the street and to have the restriction enforced by police.

“The inherent problem seems to be that we have heavy, heavy semi trucks coming down the road,” he said. “It’s ruining our streets and we are expected to pay for it.

“I don’t want to pay for semi trucks coming down my road and I don’t want to see semi trucks coming down my road.”

Kovach said the semi trucks could easily use nearby Third Street, which is rated for truck traffic.

The residents submitted a petition containing the signatures of 26 residents to the board.

Township Treasurer Jim Ringler said he agrees with the residents.

“We can do the best we can to get the signs put up,” he said.

Following public comment, the board unanimously passed a resolution in support of prohibiting truck traffic on Bond Street.

Supervisor Jim Stover said the resolution would be sent to the members of Berrien County Road Commission, which would have to decide whether or not to support the resolution.

Ringler said the road commission, which is responsible for maintaining the safety of county roads, has jurisdiction over the matter.

The road commission’s next meeting is June 15.

Also Monday, the board approved a resolution authorizing the Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service to collect a $20 assessment fee from improved parcels in the township for use by SMCAS during the 2016/17 budget year. SMCAS is a municipality owned ambulance service that serves several communities in the greater Niles area. The governing board of each owner municipality considers renewing the assessment each year.

Ringler said this is the last year that SMCAS can collect the $20 assessment and that SMCAS would have to place any further renewal up for a vote by the public next year.