January 2011
NEWTON TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE MINUTES: 01-13-2011
Newton Township Trustees met in regular session on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 8:00 pm in the township meeting room at the fire department. This was following a scheduled community meeting at 6:30 pm with ODNR re; 2 limestone permits that have been applied for in the township. Those in attendance were as follows: Bob Mock, Mike and Glena Latier,Chris Zinn, Russell and Cindy Hina, and Rusty Hina, township residents. Larry Taylor, township road supervisor; Craig Knox, Jeff Swingle and Allen Deaver of the fire department; Derek J. Dozer, James R. Smith, and Bob Stephenson, township trustees; Bernadine E. Swingle, township fiscal officer.
Meeting was called to order at 8:20 pm by chairperson Stephenson.
Pledge to the flag was led by Stephenson.
Minutes and Agenda were approved as presented.
Public Participation was first on the agenda:
Russell and Cindy Hina of 4720 Crock Road were present to voice their concern re; heavy traffic on Crock Road and the current / on going condition of the road. There were considerable improvements to the road in the summer, but the road is rough, lots of pot holes and now in the mid winter it is a glare of ice.
Rusty Hina of 4664 Huggins Road was present to also express concern of the condition of his road. States he is unable to get up the hill with a 2-wheel drive vehicle.
Dozer noted he was aware of the icy conditions and this was an item to be discussed in detail with Taylor later in the meeting. It will be addressed and necessary treatment completed.
Bob Mock was in attendance to express his appreciation of the promptness of the arrival of the fire department in his recent house fire. He also expressed appreciation of the job that was being done on the township roads. He agreed they were a bit slick at times, but understands it all takes time to get completed.
Mike Latier of Huggins Road was unhappy with the chip / seal application done earlier in the season and felt more attention needed to directed at both Crock and Huggins roads.
Chris Zinn of 6675 Bagley Road was present to voice major concerns re; the mining operations that are on going possibilities on Bagley and Lower Krofft roads. This was in regards to concerns voiced earlier in the evening with the meeting with the county commissioners and ODNR.
Brian Hill, county commissioner, came into the meeting at 8:40 pm to express the fact that he felt the meeting with ODNR went well, lots of good comments were brought forward by the public and hopefully the commissioners would be able to address some of the concerns raised.
Fire Department Business was next on the agenda with fire Chief Deaver reporting:
Deaver expressed appreciation to Mock for coming forward with the note of thanks.
Monthly EMS / Fire run stats were made available to each trustee.
The federal grant from FEMA is completed. With this grant the following items have been accomplished; Rescue tools purchased, Thermal imaging camera purchased, 40 physicals have been completed, 35 firefighters have received additional training, air bags were purchased and all of this has cost the township a total of $4000.00. Approximately $16,000.00 remains within the grant; with this fire prevention literature will be purchased, a digital projector will be purchased and two additional treadmills for the cardiac room will be purchased.
There have been 4 new applicants interviewed and will be added to the F D roster if agreeable with the trustee board. Dozer moved these applicants be accepted, second by Stephenson, Smith agreed. Those members being added are; Courtney Grant (lives just outside the township), William Shirer, Robert Chambers, and Joshua Ames all residents of the township.
Knox noted a $5300.00 EMS grant has been allowed for 2010. $3200.00 is being spent for training at Mid East Vocational Center and Knox will be attending additional EMS training in the spring.
Deaver requested permission to purchase 2 (portable) microphones with speakers and possibly a podium. Smith noted he could build a podium if he had some measurements. Deaver will be gathering some information for him.
The annual firefighter’s banquet will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the Eaglesticks Inn..
Road Report / Larry Taylor reporting was next on the agenda:
A new supply of cinders has been delivered. How much do you, the board think we should keep in supply? Trustees noted there needs to be adequate supplies to keep the roads safe at all times. Keep 200 Ton as near as possible. Taylor states this amount will fit in the garage if they keep moving them in. Taylor was advised by the board to keep applying cinders as much as possible, to keep the roads as passable as possible.
Trustees Reports:
Smith had nothing more to report.
Dozer noted that Harlan Road is rough, also, he did have two calls of appreciation from township residents.
Stephenson questioned if any final decision was made as to the closing of part of Lewellyn Lane for part of the winter as requested by Mr. Heckel at the last meeting. Fiscal Officer, in conferring with the Prosecutors Office, was told that legally the road should not be closed. It could be terminated as non-maintained status by adopting a resolution as such. No action was taken at this time.
Old Business: nothing to report.
New Business: nothing to report.
Fiscal Officer reporting:
Fiscal Officer noted “Temporary Appropriations” are in place and copies were provided to each trustee. This was acceptable by all three trustees at this time.
All elected official wages will be paid from the general fund per an affirmative vote of the board.
Bob Stephenson volunteered to be the JEDD representative for the 2011 year.
Copies of notice from ODNR re; oil well drilling on Fultonrose Road was provided to each trustee.
Notice has been received from OBWC re; additional treatment for one Gary Sterling.
The Muskingum County Recorder has sent notification of county and township zoning resolutions.
Muskingum County Auditor has provided the township with literature that is available to provide assistance to needy households for heat and electric within the township. Trustees will be taking this into consideration and approaching anyone they deem to be in need.
New / updated pricing was provided to the board from Shelly Materials for the 2011 year.
Mar-Zane Materials has provided information re; pricing for ice control materials. Copies of same was given to each trustee.
A copy of the January 2011 Grassroots Clippings was provided to each trustee.
ODNR has sent notice an additional mining permit has been applied for by Shelly Materials for additional mining on 2.2 acres in the Fultonham area.
The annual OTA Winter Conference will be held February 9 – 12, 2011 at the Convention Center in Columbus. All three trustees chose to not attend, fiscal officer was granted permission of the board to attend the conference.
All bills presented were deemed to be valid expenditures and were to be paid as presented.
The next regular meeting, due to conflict with the OTA Conference in Columbus, will be held on Monday February 14, 2011 at 7:00 pm in the township meeting room.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 pm.
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