Pike Township Trustees Regular
Monday, March 5th 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, Nancy Collier, Joe Barnes, John Miller, Clarence Flower, Dan Stallman, Alison Roberts, Linda Zaleski, Dave Collier, Gary Alkire, Nancy Snyder, Ron Katt, David Ross, Sharon Perrine, and Mark Pahanish.

 

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

 

Roll Call Vote:  Strad - Yes

  Baum – Yes

                          Anstine - Yes

                         

 

1st Public Speaks Session

 

Linda Zaleski asked who’s responsibility it is for putting the barricades up at Haut to let people know that the road is flooded.  Strad stated that the County Engineer’s office takes care of closing the gates and putting up the barricades.  Anstine will call the County Engineer’s office about the problem.

 

She went on to discuss the latest Countywide informational letter and takes exception to its lack of accuracy.  The odor comments were incorrect and totally misleading.  The odors are back.

 

Allison stated that the gentleman that changed his driveway on Dueber has a problem with the culvert either being plugged or something else because it is running onto the road and freezing.  Anstine stated that he would call about it.

 

Mr. Grooms thanked the Trustees for the beautiful stripes on the stop signs.  It really helps the visibility of the signs.  He went on to state that he and Violet will be married for 64 years.

Mr. Grooms hopes that the Trustees do not support the discussed $10.00 license fee hike.

He also noted that he drove all over and around the landfill and never smelled anything.

 

Strad stated that they came and asked for support of the sales tax, but the Trustees did not endorse it and they will follow suit and will not endorse the $10.00 increase.  The people of the Township can decide on their own as to whether it should be passed or not.

Clarence Flowers stated that the data that goes to the EPA comes from the landfill testing people.  This system does not seem to be working.  He feels that they should not be providing the tests and their results to the EPA, that the EPA should do their own testing and use their own results.  If they weren’t monitoring themselves could this potential disaster have been prevented?  Also, he hasn’t heard a single word about us trying to close them down, but when a farmer open burns, he gets fined from the Township.  Also on the taxes, conservation assessment, license fee increase, school tax, etc., everything is getting out of control and just isn’t right.

 

 

New Business

 

Anstine attended the annual Stark County Engineers meeting.  Also, he passed out an equipment list by Township in the event of a disaster that the Stark County Emergency Agency had put together. Basically, if there is a disaster, you can look at the list and determine which piece of equipment you may need to alleviate the disaster in your area.  The packet also handed out a disaster plan if ever needed.

Anstine also said that traffic studies that will be done for East Sparta Ave and Battlesburg.

 

Strad met with the Ohio Dept. of Transportation to try and help out the residents on East Sparta Ave.  He asked for monies from them to make repairs on East Sparta Ave as well as to pay for Sheriff  protection.  They stated that they will return the road to the condition it was in before the bridge repair project, but will not pay for Sheriff coverage.

They will be receptive to the lowering of the speed limit permanently if it goes through the correct channels.  Strad stated that we could wait a year for a decision and traffic study or we could pay for the traffic study right now, and they would consider changing it now.  The Sheriff deputy will be here April 1st, and he won’t guarantee it, but he is hoping that it would be reduced by April 1st.  They are hoping to reduce it to 40 or 45 mph permanently.  The cost is no more than $1,000 to do this.  The Trustees agreed that we should go ahead and pay for the study now.

 

Also, the golf course pond was flooding the road and is creating a danger to residents.  A proposal was given which is consistent with how the Township handles all culvert items on private property but the owner did not want to pay for anything.  He wanted us to do a lot of other things that if we do it for one, we will need to do it for everyone in the Township.

 

Baum stated on the same topic, that the hydrologist said what would be best.  We were trying to stay with our guidelines of how we do culverts.  They have blocked the culvert that goes under Breezehill which is now causing flooding on the road.  Since he is unwillingly to pay for any of the options, they are now looking at an open ditch solution and plan on having it done by April

 

                        

 

1st.  The Trustees will ask the Engineer’s office to survey the property so we can stay on the right-of- way.

 

 

Old  Business

Nothing at this time.

 

Financial Report

Steve Knox thanked the Trustees for trying to get the speed limit reduced.

 

Zoning Report

Perrine read the zoning report.

She will be in court on Monday about the Charton property, and the three judges will make a decision on the case.

Also there is a junk car on Elson which has now involved the Health Department.

Our Zoning resolution also states that you can only have one resident per parcel, and one septic system per house.  There is a piece of property that was trying to be sold as two units with one septic in the Township.

They have also uncovered the old cemetery on Gracemont.

They also received a tentative agreement about getting the Coon Hunters Club and the attorney will start on the paperwork. 

There have been multiple requests of copies of minutes on tape.  How much should we charge for this?

 

A motion was made by Anstine to charge $3.00 to copy a tape from the meetings upon request.  Seconded by Strad.

 

 

Road Report

Pahanish asked about the tree on Riceford.  The Trustees do not feel it is important at this time to have that removed.

 

The Zoning Commission will meet Wednesday to discuss some changes to the zoning book.

 

Public Speaks Session

Nothing at this time.