March 2010

        Newton Township Trustees met in regular session on Monday, March 15, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the township meeting room.  Those in attendance were; Larry Parry, Joseph & Penny Roberts  township resident; Allen Deaver and Craig Knox, fire department; Larry Taylor, road supervisor; Derek J. Dozer, James R. Smith and Robert J. Stephenson, township trustees; and Bernadine E. Swingle, township fiscal officer.

                Meeting was called to order @ 7:03 by Derek Dozer, chairperson.

                Pledge to the flag was led by Dozer.

                Agenda was approved as presented.

                Minutes from the February, 2010 meeting were approved as presented.

                Public Participation:  The Roberts’ were present to request an alley along their property at 5675 Hoover Ave. be stoned.  There was some question as to whether the alley was a maintained alley of the township.  Trustees agreed to check on it and proceed as necessary.

                Larry Parry was present to present billing to the township for a new mailbox he has installed which he states the previous one was destroyed by township snowplows.  Total cost was $104.71 which all three trustees agreed this needed to be paid.

                Fire Department, Deaver, fire chief reporting. 

                *The list of all participating fire department employees has been updated and provided to necessary persons.

                *Reports of both fire and EMS runs were presented for verification to the board.

                *The department inventory has been completed and is on file with the fiscal officer.

                *Department personnel notes:

                                Paisley is currently on leave of absence.    

                                Coler has been claimed inactive and has been issued written notice of same.

                                Lloyd has passed the EMT-basic testing and is now certified as EMT with the state.

                *The boiler room drain has been snaked and is currently not draining sufficiently.  An estimate has been presented by Stewart Plumbing to dig up the drain, replace / repair necessary parts and complete by covering with cement in the amount of $700.00.  All three trustees were in agreement that this is definitely necessary and should be done as soon as possible.

                *April 18-24, 2010, Larry Geiger, Allen Deaver, Tim Swingle and Craig Knox will be attending FDIC training in Indianapolis, IN.

                *There have been 8 applications received for the department and all will be interviewed on Tuesday, 03-16-2010 by department personnel.

                *The FEMA grant that was applied for has been granted in the amount of $89,000.00.  This will allow for purchase of new Jaws of Life, 240 hour class training for any / all fire personnel that need it, physicals for each one and other emergency equipment as deemed necessary.

                *The door locks are still in limbo.  Cost to install total “keying system” would be in the $10,000.00 range and does not seem feasible at this time.  The current plan is to replace locks on the Bunk room, locked cupboards in the meeting room to store the overhead projector, door by the pop machines and the entry door in the bay area.  As questioned by the trustee board, no issues with items missing as of late.  Dozer questioned the possibility of installing cameras at the main entrances of the building.  Deaver noted he would ask for pricing for this.  This will be discussed further at the April, 2010 meeting.

                *Deaver requested permission to purchase a new cut-off/circular saw as the old one has died.  Pricing of $845.00 and $799.00 has been received, the lesser being from Beckert Chain Saw.  Vote of trustees was taken; Dozer-aye, Smith-aye and Stephenson-aye.

                *The department copier is no longer in decent working order.    Cost of purchasing a new one is approximately $4000.00; leasing of the same would be $200.00 per month for 24 months, $150.00 per month for 36 months, or $120.00 for 48 months.  This would include any / all servicing and supplies needed as well.  Deaver agreed to proceed by securing updated figures and presenting it to the board at the April meeting.

                *Deaver asked permission to begin specking out a tanker truck, but not with the intention of purchase at this time.  Estimates the cost at approximately $200,000.00 - $250,000.00.  This would be for a 2000 – 3000 gallon tanker.  All three trustees it would be acceptable to LOOK.

                *Dozer presented pictures showing blood stains being left on the gym floor following the “wrestling” matches being held in the gym.  He noted this was not acceptable and anyone cleaning should not be asked to clean this up.  Deaver noted he would warn “Charles” who is responsible for the wrestling program and also noted he has been warned before.  This is to be the last warning as it will no longer be accepted.

                Question to the fire department personnel; how did the Madison Township meeting go?  Knox reported it went well.  National Trail F D were the ones responsible for the meeting as they feel they are not being toned out for responses as they should be.  According to Knox, the problem lies within the system with Perry County and the National Trail department.

                Fiscal Officer noted there is a CVS billing statement due; no invoices have been turned in to her.  This bill cannot be paid until the invoices are presented.

                Knox reported that information has been secured re; the pay off of the medic.  If this could be accomplished within the 2010 year, a savings of approximately $500.00 would be revealed.  Knox also seemed a little disgruntled re; the fact some funding had been taken from the EMS account in 2009 to fulfill an obligation from the fire fund to the Capital Project Fund.

                Road Report; Larry Taylor reporting.

                There is much damage to all the township roads resulting from the winter weather we have encountered.  Stone is being applied on a daily basis and many roads are requiring repeated treatments.  Taylor stated it would be to the advantage of the township if the “trash” trucks could be eliminated from the roads.  Dozer has contacted County Engineer Davis re; this and was advised a load limit              could be put in place that would require a penalty be paid if vehicles are overloaded.   However, the roads need to be patrolled by law enforcement and this is nearly impossible for rural roads.

                Stephenson suggested to Taylor that he check out the “ditching” attachment to the grader in Springfield Township that they use to clean the ditches.  It may be something this township needs to consider trying to do.

                Taylor was asked, in his opinion, which township roads are in the worst condition?  The following were listed; Ridgley, Lower Krofft, Workman, Slack, Bush Run, Yost and Payne.  These will all be taken into consideration this season for some extensive upgrading per the trustee board.

                Trustees Reports:  (Chip / Seal

                Smith; Yost, Leffler (front of houses only), Moxahala Park Place (start where the road narrows),

Payne (go to B. Brown), and all of Ironspot.

                Stephenson; Ridgley (from Bagley to trailers), part of Slack, Lower Krofft (front of houses only), Workman, Stine (one soft spot on the end), all of Nutter.

                Dozer; Harlen (from SR #93 to the bridge, then in front of houses), Porter Run (front of houses only), Butcher Knife and Moxahala Park.

                Trustee’s reports; other:

                Smith; the roof on the old school house (garage) needs replaced as it is leaking.  He provided two estimates for replacing with the township supplying the tin for the new roof.  One estimate was for $24,000.00 second one was for $23,350.00.  The board determined to accept the $23,350.00 bid.  This will be done as soon as weather permits.

                Three estimates were presented by Smith for the purchase of a new pick-up truck for the township.  The lowest estimate came in at $22,108.00 (state bid) from Dutro-Ford-Lincoln-Mercury.  Smith moved this bid be accepted and the purchase of the truck proceed, this does not include the snow blade / salt distributor.  Motion second by Dozer, Stephenson agreed.  All three trustees agreed to retain the old pickup truck as a back up as needed.

                Dozer stated he will be in contact with one Brent Berkfield of Neff Paving re; the cracking and breaking up of areas of new black to on Thompson Run Road.  Also, he will inform the fiscal officer of necessary information needed to place and ad in the Times Recorder for bidding of chip / seal.

                The trustees also asked the fiscal officer to send a note of thanks to Bob Mock along with a gift certificate for his assistance during the inclement weather season.  This was mailed 03-18-2010.

                Fiscal Officer reports:

                Notice has been received re; a TIRC (Tax Incentive Review Council) meeting to be held at the Zanesville Welcome Center.   This is a tax abatement meeting and township attendance is not required.

                Request to purchase new / current Township Sourcebooks from OTA was allowed by an “aye” vote of all three trustees.

                A contract has been received from ODOT for reserving “salt / road de-icing” for the next season.  This was accepted by all three trustees with the estimated amount being 200 ton.

               Smith presented a health insurance application to be processed as the township policy reads.

                A road worker had an OBWC claim turned in on Saturday, 03-06-2010 for injuries received from a fall on the ice.  He was off work for the Sunday of that week only, returned on Monday with light duty allowed and was released for full duty by OBWC on Monday 03-15-2010. 

                A note of appreciation has been received from Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Coop for the township assistance during the late snow / ice storm.

                EngleField Oil Company has notified the township of as 8% price increase of all lubricants.

                OBWC has notified the township of a credit of $27, 316.66 from 2009 fees paid.  This comes as a result of the fire department becoming part-time paid and no longer a volunteer department which drops the township rating considerably.  This will be applied to the 2010 workers comp billing.

                A renewal notice has been received from Ohio Labor Law Poster Service.  However, it was determined by both fire department personnel and township personnel that we are current on township postings.

                OTARMA has posted an update re; extensive coverages they will be providing in the future.

                Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency has notified the township of upcoming dates (April 21 & 22 and April 28) being made available for hosting ECS 300 and ICS 400 classes for anyone needing to take these.  According to EMA office, this is required and especially for any new trustees.

                Mr. Stephenson recently attended the JEDD meeting and provided minutes of same for township records.

                Copies of Grassroots Clippings for March, 2010 were provided to each trustee.

                A copy of the 2010 Ohio LTAP customer survey was completed by trustee Dozer and returned to

 ODOT .

                Notice was made that Newton Township Newsletters have been printed and delivered to all township residents.

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

                The next regular meeting of the trustees will be held April 8, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the township meeting room.

                Meeting adjourned at 10:43 pm.

Newton Township has made every effort to ensure all the information listed on this website is accurate and up to date.  This information can and may change without notice.  Meeting overviews are meant to serve as short informational updates on township business.  We can not be responsible for any inaccurate or omitted information.