Pike Township Trustees Regular

Tuesday, September 5^th 06

Regular Meeting

President Lee Strad called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Trustees Bob Anstine and Doug Baum were present as well as Fiscal Officer Steve Knox. Others in attendance were Road Supervisor Mark Pahanish, Nancy Collier, Louis Grooms, David Ross, Nancy Cramer, Sharon Perrine, Ron Katt, and Todd(Countywide), Tom O’Dell, Arnie Adams, Gary Frank, Nick Gibler and Dave Collier.

A motion was made by Anstine to accept the minutes and financials as presented. Seconded by Baum.

Roll Call Vote: Baum – Yes

Anstine – Yes

Strad - Yes

1^st Public Speaks Session

The Trustees discussed the .2 acres of land that is adjacent to the Nancy Cramer property. Strad stated that the Township attorney stated that if we want to relinquish the property in question, it would have to be disposed of through a public auction at a regular meeting.

A motion was made by Anstine to dispose of the .2 acres of land that was formerly Grove School House on Haut Street through an open auction at the meeting. Seconded by Baum.

Roll Call Vote: Baum – Yes

Anstine – Yes

Strad - Yes

The auction will occur on November 6^th, 2006 at 7:30 at the Township Offices and the Trustees will be able to accept or reject any and all bids.

Ron Katt asked if the Township has a legal petition he could use to try and get the speed limit reduced on his street. Strad said that he could check with Carol to see if she had one.

Tom O’Dell and Gary Frank called the Township today and wanted to know about whether the Zoning book addresses the odor issue since the Canton Health Department is now saying it is a nuisance. Perrine again re-iterated that the nuisance odor falls under the Ohio EPA and not the Township. She went on to discuss the legal items in the Zoning Book which has nothing to do with the nuisance per odor, but they do have to comply with the Ohio Health Department, and the EPA.

Pike Township Trustees Regular

Tuesday, September 5th 06

Mr. O’Dell asked the Zoning Inspector to read page 23 section P. Perrine stated that they don’t fall under that section, but O’Dell stated that all zoning types fall under the zoning section P in the book.

Strad asked O’Dell if there is anything that would allow us to go to court with and call it a nuisance? Strad asked for a precise definition that would hold up in court. Perrine stated that Attorney Hall addressed the section in question and it does not pertain to the Landfill, but covers buildings/businesses that are creating fumes, if the smell is coming from those kind of buildings, then section P may be used.

O’Dell asked if we have applied for an odor nuisance. Strad stated no.

Strad asked if it was a violation, O’Dell said it was a nuisance odor but wasn’t sure if it was actually a violation.

Todd stated that they are taking a different approach, letting the boards who have the authority to take care of the odor, do their job.

Strad stated that there are bigger organizations involved including the Ohio Attorney General, 3 different prosecuting offices, the Waste District, and 3 Boards of Trustees. If it was as easy to close a company due to odor, you would have seen Ashland Oil, Canton Waste Plant, and the treatment plant by the Massillon Walmart already shut down.

Bill would like to complain about the smell he has received in Bolivar, and when does it end. For the rest of his life, or until he moves. They don’t know what to do with the odor at the landfill he went on to say. Strad stated that we have residents coming to every meeting complaining about the odor, and he has received hundreds of emails about the odor

Strad stated that the Board doesn’t like getting complaints on the odor, and they also hope it goes away.

Grooms stated that the road crew did a wonderful job chipping and sealing East Sparta Ave.

Todd from Countywide, worthy of note, over the first part of the month, they were doing maintenance work on the pipeline. Since the 24^th, they installed an additional 12 gas wells. They will resume drilling 50 more wells.

The Ohio EPA will be making a statement about the odor of the landfill tomorrow.

Again tours are offered to all Pike Township residents.

Todd stated that they do know what the problem is, they just don’t know how long it is going to take before the odor is gone.

There is information in the public record that there is no threat to the odor. Samples have been taken by the Canton City Health Department on the odor and nothing toxic or dangerous is in the odor.

When asked if they have had a violation issued to them, Todd stated that they have received a violation for ponding water on top of the landfill but not for the odor as of this time.

Baum asked if the gases are all on the same cell? Todd said no. There are different sections that are being impacted.

In closing, he thanked the people for their patience and apologized that they can’t get a date out as to when the odor will be gone.

New Business

Barto stated that the road crew has been very busy and have been behind on installing the headstones. She wanted to get permission that if they are not available, that she be able to call an outside source to install the monuments. Baum stated that we need to be the number one choice, but if we need to go elsewhere, that is fine.

Barto is requesting vacation next week but will be in town for burials.

Strad stated that there has been a concern about the weed eating at the cemetery. Barto stated that the companies understanding was that every other week is when they will weed eat every other section.

A resident had stated that an arrangement was taken from the top of his wife’s monument and he wants to place another one on it but wanted to make sure that it won’t be removed.

A motion was made by Anstine to accept the bid for the fence from SFC at $1,565 for around the new generator. Seconded by Baum.

Anstine talked to the striping company and said they will be calling him back next week.

They will stripe Farber down to the bridge.

A motion was made by Baum to go into executive session for personnel.

Seconded by Anstine.

A motion was made by Anstine to adjourn executive session at 9:30p.m.

Seconded by Baum

Strad asked Arnie Adams if he would be interested in Fire Inspector since Dale Freitag left the Township. Adams stated that he would be interested, but as of right now, has not heard that Freitag will not continue on.

Strad would like to put a note in with Freitag’s check that asks what his status is as to the Fire Inspector position.

Old Business

Nothing at this time.

Financial Report

Knox stated that originally, with the new budget process, the due date was October 20^th. That changed and we were just notified that it is now due by September 15^th, thus he will not be able to bring it to a meeting for approval before submission to the County Auditor.

Nasal Ranger Training is being offered at no cost to 3 employees. Nasal Ranger is a piece of equipment that measures odor.

Zoning Report

Perrine stated that the Zoning Appeals Board denied a split due to the regulation stating that there is not a 100 foot set back on the Brown property.

She also stated that she has sent out a few letters for vehicles inoperable vehicles sitting on properties including the property beside Lambert’s.

She also talked to the people on the corner of Battlesburg about the hedges, and they said they would cut them back so people can see at the intersection.

Road Report

Pahanish read the road report.

Finished on East Sparta Ave.

Buckeye would pay to have Bowmont chip and sealed. Around $13,000 for that portion, and he also calculated that it would cost another $11,000 to finish the road.

The Trustees agreed to finish Bowmont and East Sparta Ave.

There is a culvert that crosses in front of Pahanish’s house that needs to be fixed because it is causing a hole on Ullet. The Trustees okayed to uncover it to see what is the problem.

The Trustees agreed to send a letter to ODOT asking them to put a light in if possible at the bridge.

Public Speaks Session

Nothing at this time.