Pike Township Trustees Regular Meeting

Monday, February 5^th 2007

Regular Meeting

President Doug Baum called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Trustees Lee Strad and Bob Anstine were present as well as Clerk Steve Knox. Others in attendance were Louis & Violet Grooms, Richard Mahoney, Wendy Braham, Penny Pingstort, Dave Collier, Ronald Brothers, Bill Warloyt, Clarence Flowers, Nancy Cramer, Linda Zaleskit, David Ross, Gary Alkire, Butch Heavilin, Dan Stallman, Cherie Bruno, Tom Bruno, Harry McCallister, Bruce Beck, Cari Long, Kim Ann & Paul, Arnie Adams, Sharon Perrine, and Mark Pahanish, .

A motion was made by Anstine to accept the minutes and financial report as presented. Seconded by Strad.

Roll Call Vote: Strad – Yes

Baum – Yes

Anstine - Yes

1^st Public Speaks Session

Mr. Beck stated that he came to the meeting out of concern of the detour. He is really concerned about the rumors that people will be arrested if they take the non-detour on East Sparta Ave and he wants to make sure that they will have the road open to all traffic.

Baum stated that we have a Sheriff hired for a few weeks to cover that area.

Strad went on to say that they are in a tuff situation with keeping the safety of the residents in that area a top priority, while maintaining the traffic for the local business that are affected.

Pahanish talked to ODOT, and they think they have done everything they needed to do for signage.

Marilyn Philips from Delroy owns Wildcat Sportwear, and she is willing to discuss an alternative to using the non-detour of East Sparta Ave. but is also concerned about customers coming from the North and no real detour marked as to where they should go.

Don, represents a business, he thinks the route from Ridge to Battlesburg would be good, but there currently are no signs up defining what the detour is.

Baum said that if we can get Detour signs up at Ridge that should at least split the traffic between East Sparta Ave and Ridge.

Penny works in the Salon and is concerned about her customers from Canton.

Wendy Braham is the owner of the salon and she understands the concerns of the residents on East Sparta Ave. Her clients feel intimidated by the police presents and they really don’t know another way to go. If there were at least some kind of detour signs up, then it would help her clients as well as everyone else.

Mrs. Bruno who lives on East Sparta Ave., does not have a problem with local traffic, but the thousands of cars and trucks that are now using the road is too much and too dangerous. That road is not built for that, and the speed limit is 55 mph.

Mr. Bruno said he wants the trucks off and the speed limit reduced. He understands that people will and need to use the road, but these are things that have to be done.

Baum talked to Rehfus about the reduction in speed and got nowhere with it.

Another resident said that his son lives in East Sparta and was going to work and was pulled. He did not receive a ticket, but was told by the Sheriff that if he comes back this way, he will be fined $100.00.

He started using Ridge Road but that road is a death trap.

Todd Bosely Stark County Commissioner, discussed the road closure and the lack of detour signs. In the morning, he will be lobbying to reduce the speed to 25 mph on the route, and will also find detour routes and have signs put up so they are clearly marked. As a Commissioner, he can assist with this. They have a meeting and he will contact one of the Trustees with what they are going to do.

He went on to state that you can not be threatened or fined $100 for using a public road even if signs are up stating thru traffic prohibited,

Again, he will try to have the speed temporarily reduced as well as come up with alternative routes in both directions.

He invited everyone to their meeting stating it is at the corner of Tuscarawas and Market at noon.

Linda Zaleski said that those of us who have lived with the landfill know that there is no 235 days until the landfill ends and they get back to their lives. Although the trucks being dangerous on the roads is a big issue for the residents. The Beacon has written a lot of good articles on the landfill and you can view them at www.ohio.com.

She again asks that the public officials continue to fight and stay on top of the situation.

The new Ohio EPA director stated that he is giving this his number one priority at the Solid Waste District meeting.

They have an enormous problem and it is not going away.

Wayne Wood would like to thank the Trustees for giving him time to speak and a warm place to sit. He went to another advertised meeting and was told to wait outside in freezing temperatures only to be brought back in and then not given the right to speak.

Woods went on to state that there was an East Sparta Village truck in the Ferndale allotment and he was wondering why it was there. The Trustees did not know.

He thanked the Trustees again for all of their help on fighting the annexation.

Clarence Flowers asked about the plow damage on Seamen, and asked if they could top dress the road so that the plow wouldn’t tear it up. Strad stated that they can put a coat on in the summer.

New Business

Anstine stated that the clerk may want to contact Mary Taylor’s office on how to reduce the cost of the Townships audit.

He also stated that cemetery plots are personal property for the owner.

The new HB 401, which goes into affect April 4^th, 2007, states that a firefighter can hold their card for 3 yrs. before losing it unless you have continuing education.

Baum and Strad went to the OTAS meeting. There is a Waste District Advisory Baord that the OTAS team appoints a representative to and they appointed a gentleman from Lake Township. Strad let his feelings be known that the Township that has the most landfill trouble would better suit on a committee like that. After board discussion, the representative from Lake resigned, and Doug Baum was appointed to the advisory board.

Baum stated that the annual regional planning dinner meeting is coming up.

A motion was made by Anstine to reimburse all Township board members that would want to attend. Second by Strad.

Baum went on to state that he went to the golf course with the flooding problem, but they will have to decide on who will purchase the pipe if that is the way they want to go. Hall was there and both owners which will be discussed further on Wed.

Also, the road crew made the one year no loss accident time for 2006. Congratulations to them.

Also noted was that the East Sparta Homecoming is July 6^th.

Old Business

Nothing at this time.

Financial Report

Nothing at this time.

Zoning Report

Perrine read the zoning report.

The trailer at S&N pallet has been removed and are in compliance.

She also had letters of what Canton Township is doing.

Road Report

Pahanish read the road report.

Public Speaks Session

Nothing at this time.