February 2020
NEWTON TOWNSHIP MINUTES 2-11-2020
Newton Township Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. Those in attendance were Jason Taylor, Road Maintenance Employee for the Township; Allen Deaver, Fire Chief, Craig Knox Assistant Chief and EMS Coordinator; James R. Smith, Robert Stephenson, Derek Dozer; Township Trustees and Paula Frank, Fiscal Officer. Also in attendance were Muskingum County Sheriff, Matt Lutz, Township residents, Bernadine Swingle and Mr. Stottsberry. Josh Bryan, from the Fire Department, entered later in the meeting.
Meeting was called to order by Trustee Smith at 6:00 pm.
Pledge to the flag was led by Trustee Smith.
Agenda approved.
Minutes were approved as presented.
Public Participation: Nothing from Mrs. Swingle or Mr. Stottsberry. Sheriff Lutz distributed some information on calls from the Sheriff’s department. He addressed the Route 22 detour and stated that they are trying to keep deputies in the area to make sure trucks are obeying the detour. Trustee Smith notified the Sheriff that there were 3 locks cut off of the mini storage in Avondale. More discussion regarding the traffic on Limestone Valley Road due to the closure of SR 22. Trustee Dozer brought up the theft of some four-wheelers and side-by-sides n the area in recent months. Discussion followed. Pro Second Amendment discussion followed as brought to the attention of the Sheriff, by Trustee Dozer.
Fire Department Business: Chief Deaver—still working on the 2015 grant close-out. Has a hiccup that he is working on. FF 2 Class—13 of 14 passed class—one failure failed by 1 point. A-EMT Class is almost complete.
Roseville borrowed and returned the back-up engine. They greatly appreciated the use of the truck.
Trustee Dozer—brought the topic of paid administrative leave when someone is out pending an investigation and who has the right to actually perform the investigation. He stated it is best to have the employee out of the environment during the investigation instead of allowing them to continue the bad behavior and tainting the situation further.
Nothing from Assistant Chief Knox.
Road Report – Jason Taylor—He got the backhoe fixed in three days instead of two. J Potholes and laying down stone. Bush Run Road looks good. Ridgley was looking good but he drove down again today and it looks like it needs more stone again. Larry was on Ford with the grader after a resident made a call to Trustee Smith. More rain is expected, unfortunately. Workman still needs finished and Porter Run. Trustee Stephenson said a resident on Ridgley was very appreciative of the work that was done there.
Trustee Smith asked about prices on truck bed. Jason distributed information to the Trustees. Trustee Dozer discussed some truck distributors that he saw at the OTA Conference this past week. He believes it is worth the money to get a newer truck. Jason stated that in the older trucks the injector pumps will go bad at 100 to 120K miles. The total of the cost of the truck from Truck Pro Enterprises is around $50,000. Discussion followed regarding the state purchasing program. There is a blade with the truck but it is too narrow. Trustee Stephenson wants to research the state purchasing program where the State sets the price of what a dealer can charge you. Trustee Dozer said he would research the state purchasing / leasing program to see if they can purchase a new truck for a better price than retail.
Old Business - None.
New Business - None.
Trustees Reports:
Stephenson—FEMA—they do not want to take care of Workman Road hill. The hill is slipping and needs repaired. There is a new person in charge of the grant and she isn’t cooperating with the trustees. If it snows, plows will tear up all of our roads because they are so soft. Trustee Stephenson brought the Browning fence situation to the board and recommended that they give the property owners until April 1st to move the fence. Trustees Smith and Dozer agreed to that deadline.
Smith—Maysville Water Department—have not filled out right-of-way paperwork and are digging clear out of the right-of-way to install new lines. Discussion followed that they should have had a contract before they started work on Heckel Road. There are issues with the streets in Avondale from the water dept. from the past.
Dozer—AT&T continues to call about the line that was cut on Workman Road. Jason stated that there are multiple places, in the township, that they could cut the line when ditching. AT&T is stating that we should do a “call before you dig” but that is not a possibility when the ditching is being done.
He received a call regarding the amount of junk in White Cottage. The Cannon property and the corner of Limestone Valley Road and Foxfire. Derek presented paperwork regarding “problem properties” from the OTA conference stating that the Township cannot go on the property unless they have a deputy with them. If there is not a law or zoning in place, you cannot “police” property owners on how they live. Must take pictures and get petitions signed to take action against nuisance properties.
He asked Jason to take care of Yost Road, Holbert and Lewellyn. There are a few holes on Harlan that need filled.
Discussion followed regarding paving for the year and the Gasoline Tax fund and Road and Bridge funds can help pay that.
Fiscal Officer Reports
Presented Resolution # 01/2020 to make necessary adjustments to the appropriations so the funds will balance the amended certificate. Mr. Stephenson moved to adopt the resolution and Mr. Dozer seconded. All were in favor of the adoption of the resolution.
Distributed the 2020 appropriations and a fund status report.
Right-of-way permit from AEP Fletcher Road and Porter Run Road was presented for approval.
Distributed Grassroots Clippings.
Trustee Smith made a motion to pay bills. Trustee Dozer seconded the motion.
All bills presented were deemed to be valid expenditures and were to be paid as presented.
Next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 6:00pm at the Fire Department.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm
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