January 2005

NEWTON TOWNSHP MINUTES – 01-13-05

Newton Township Trustees met in regular session on Thursday, January 13, 2005 at 7:00 PM at the township meeting room at the fire department.  Those in attendance:   Brian Pierce and Jeff Darrah of the Maysville Youth League; Wayne Karr a township resident; Allen Deaver and Larry Geiger of the fire department; township trustees, James C. Geyer, Charles R. Elson and Derek Dozer; Bernadine E. Swingle, township clerk.

                    7:00 PM the meeting was called to order by chairperson Derek Dozer. 

                    Agenda was approved as presented.

                   Minutes were approved as presented.

Pierce and Darrah were on site to request permission to use the ball field in White Cottage for another season.  This was approved by all three trustees with the following stipulations:  no alcohol, port o let on site at their expense, trash cleaned up and disposed of weekly, grass kept mowed and trimmed and the following weekends would be kept free for community activities; Easter week end and Community Days weekend.

Mr. Karr lives in the Jenkins Drive area and is concerned about trees lining the Nolan Drive roadside.  Many of ther appear to be dead and during stormy weather, limbs and debris come onto the road causing driving hazards.  All three trustees agreed there is a problem here and would address the situation as soon as possible.

                 Allen Deaver reporting for the fire department;

                 *Josh Bryan and Larry Geiger are now certified as fire inspectors in our township.

    *Tim Lutz and Bridgette Geiger have submitted resignations to the department, effective immediately.

*The boiler is still a concern as no one has remedied the problem with the controls as of this                 time.

*The department membership will continue to be at a 45 member level as much as possible.

7:50 PM Deaver requested trustees to go into Executive Session to discuss some fire personnel problems.

8:05PM Executive session concluded. 

TRUSTEE REPORTS: 

Elson had nothing to report.

Dozer noted there is a culvert on Kennedy Drive that needs some attention.  Also, a lady in Ironspot has reported water running off the road onto her property and causing some drainage / erosion problems.

Geyer reported there is MUCH ditch erosion from the heavy rains experienced in recent days.  Areas that have been noted to date are; Workman Rd., East Darlington, Slack Rd. and Ridgley Rd..  Many of the roads have not yet been evaluated.

Township equipment has been moved to higher elevations twice in the last two weeks to eliminate the chance of water damage to same.

Cubby Jarrett has cleaned the entire “old” fire department building on Limestone Valley Road twice in the last two weeks which includes; water hosing and power washing out all bays, washing, scrubbing and cleaning the carpet, cleaning and repairing walls and trim around the walls and power washing the parking area.  The trustees agreed to compensate  him for his efforts.

Tipton Lane is becoming very soft / muddy.  The continual use of heavy equipment traveling   this road is a concern. 

            NEW BUSINESS:

            Regular monthly meetings will be held on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month unless noted otherwise.

            CLERKS’ REPORT

Several residents have called in regards to the possible business / building construction in the Jenkins addition.  This was determined to be a neighborhood situation and not a trustee problem.

One Jack Mattey has called concerning a recently installed culvert to his driveway that had been damaged by the Petro-Lane fuel truck delivering fuel.  The fuel company was to pay for the culvert.

Question to the trustees as to whether personal days for road employees were to be carried forward from one year to another was voiced.  Tabled until later.

Information as to availability of  FEMA help for recent storm damage was discussed  extensively as nothing has been noted.

 All bill presented were deemed to be valid expenditures and were to be paid as presented.

 Next regular meeting will be held January 27, 2005 at 7:00 PM at the fire house.

 8:40 PM meeting adjourned.

NEWTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE MINUTES - - 01-27-2005

Newton Township Trustees met in regular session on Thursday, January 27, 2005 at 7:00 PM at the township meeting room at the fire department.  Those is attendance were: Allen Deaver, Tim Swingle, Larry Geiger, and Jeff Swingle of the fire department; James C. Geyer, Charles R. Elson, and Derek J. Dozer, township trustees; Bernadine E. Swingle, clerk.

            Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by chairperson, Derek Dozer.

            Agenda was approved as presented.

            Minutes of the last meeting were approved as presented.

            No public participation was necessary as no one was present for same.

            FIRE DEPARTMENT:

             Deaver reported for the fire department:

 *Med Flight has prepared and will soon be present on site for operation for approximately 4 weeks.  Finalization of necessary improvements for operation will be completed within the next week, weather permitting.  All trustees agreed to allow Jeff Swingle and J. D. List use township equipment to prepare and finalize the area to be cemented.

            *The boiler has still not been repaired; seems to be communication problem with the necessary person involved for the repairs.

            *Most of the new locks have been installed within the building; the remainder will be completed the first of next week.

  *The local Rotary Club has been in contact for request to use the building for a “Texas Hold   – Em Tournament”.  The fire department will benefit with half of the profits plus all concessions.  It is understood that smoking and alcohol will not be permitted.

            *To date with the department, there have been 43 runs made and 3 no responses.

             TRUSTEES REPORT:

            Elson, nothing to report.

            Geyer, nothing to report.

Dozer had a call from a resident on Lambert Rd. regarding some drainage problems.  Geyer noted that the road in question was an old railroad right of way and does not believe it is township property.  Dozer agreed to check with the Muskingum County Map Department to clarify the ownership of same.

Dozer also noted he had a call on the current condition of Dilts Lane at the top of Ridgley Rd..  Elson agreed to check it out tomorrow.

        OLD BUSINESS:

Geyer reported that the trees in question on Nolan Drive are located on private property and these individuals need to be contacted before any removal is done by the township.  Dozer agreed to check this out with the owners.

        NEW BUSINESS:

         Nothing to report.

        CLERKS REPORT:

A letter has been received from the County Soil and Water Department regarding a drainage / culvert problem on Harlan Rd..  Trustees agreed to check it out.

            Temporary appropriations were reviewed and will be critiqued at the next meeting. 

            Trustees agreed all bills presented were valid expenditures and were to be paid as presented.

             Next regular meeting will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2005 at the township meeting room.

             8:05 PM meeting adjourned.

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