Minutes: May 24th, 2011

Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees

Meeting Minutes

May 24, 2011

The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Matt Montowski on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room.

In attendance were Matt Montowski, William Rofkar, Gary Mortus, Karen Shaw,
Bob Rogers, John Gangway, Dan Barlow, Paul Shaw, Joe Bires, Jim Stouffer, Jack DeVore, Rich Zoyhofski, Derek Tobin, and Tyler Carstensen.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all followed by a moment of silence for our troops.

The minutes were read from the May 10 Public Zoning Hearing. William Rofkar made a motion to approve the May 10 Public Zoning Hearing minutes as presented. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.

The minutes were read from the May 10 Records Commission meeting. William Rofkar made a motion to approve the May 10 Records Commission meeting minutes as presented. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.

The minutes were read from the May 10 meeting of the Board of Township Trustees. William Rofkar made a motion to approve the May 10 meeting minutes as amended.
Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.

William Rofkar made a motion to approve and pay the bills, including the last payroll, in the amount of $29,477.31. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.


Correspondence

The following correspondence was received by the township and read:

A letter from Sandy Burt of the Hylant Group regarding Ohio Plan Resource Material and a sample Policy and Procedure manual. CDs of each were also enclosed for review.

A letter from Bill Balmat, Ohio Plan Risk Management Representative, requesting a response to recommendations summarized in a letter dated March 1, 2011.

A letter of complaint from Catawba Island resident Robert Nehls concerning the condition of property located at 5563 N. Fairway Drive.

An email from Shelly Stively, Catawba Island Township receptionist, regarding numerous phone calls she has received from residents complaining of uncut grass on privately owned properties throughout the township.

An invitation from Port Clinton City School District to attend the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New Port Clinton Middle School Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the Port Clinton High School Performing Arts Center.

Presentation

Paul Shaw, The Vineyard on Catawba Campus Administrator, submitted a letter of request for a minor deviation to their existing PUD and made a brief presentation. The request is to build 16 single family condos in place of the eight approved duplexes. Paul Shaw said the minor deviation does not change the density of The Vineyard on Catawba PUD or the amount of green space.

Gary Mortus made a motion to approve the minor deviation from eight duplexes to 16 single family condos for The Vineyard on Catawba as it does not change the density of the original PUD. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.

Police

Police Chief Bob Rogers requested approval for the purchase of ammunition for the police department from a distributor in Columbus that provides ammunition at State Bid prices. He said the requested ammunition will cost approximately $2,500 plus shipping. Bob Rogers said the quantity should last quite some time, but he would like to have the ammunition on hand as firearms qualifications for police department personnel is now conducted twice a year. The Trustees approved the request for ammunition.

Zoning

Matt Montowski said the Zoning Commission will meet Wednesday, May 25, to discuss zoning definitions and possible text amendment recommendations. The Trustees agreed the text amendment recommendations would be reviewed at a Public Hearing Tuesday, June 14, at 7:00 p.m. prior to the regular business meeting.

Matt Montowski said he would like the Trustees to consider purchasing an external hard drive backup system for the computer being utilized to scan and store duplicate copies of the zoning files. The Trustees agreed to a backup system.

Matt Montowski said there are a few businesses with off premises directional signs on utility poles around Catawba. He said the businesses received letters from the township and one owner responded and complied with our request. Matt Montowski said the township is waiting to hear from another business.

Fiscal

Karen Shaw said she transferred $150,000 from STAR Ohio to Huntington to cover expenses for the Sand Road Project.

Other Business

Jim Stouffer of the Catawba Island Club addressed a few questions they have had recently. He said while traveling north from Barnum Road to Beach Club Road on the right side on part of their golf course there are patches of brown grass. He said last fall a company they hired to get rid of the phragmite weeds applied a chemical that unfortunately killed all the fescue grass. Jim Stouffer said the company will reseed the fescue grass in the near future.



Jim Stouffer also said on the west side of N.W. Catawba Road between Barnum Road and Beach Club Road they have placed small “Please Do Not Mow” signs. He said the CIC has asked the Ottawa County Engineer to not mow that bank and the CIC will trim along the berm. Jim Stouffer said he feels it looks best trimmed out that way.

Gary Mortus said he and Dan Barlow have been researching columbarium options for the cemetery. He said in the near future they may be bringing ideas and recommendations for the Board to consider. Columbariums house above ground burial niches for cremation urns.

Gary Mortus said the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office is going to include in the bid process for road striping within Catawba Island Township that cones and proper signage will be utilized.

Gary Mortus made a motion to enter into the County Engineer’s 2011 Striping Program with the restrictions we have placed on the bid for proper signage and cones. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.

William Rofkar made a motion to participate in the advertising of bid for the repaving
of Muggy Road contract coordinated through the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office with an estimated cost of $132,476.04. Gary Mortus seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.

The Trustees discussed the letter from Bill Balmat of Ohio Plan Risk Management and agreed they would not be implementing the recommendations summarized in his letter dated March 1, 2011. Matt Montowski said he would notify Bill Balmat of their decision.

The Trustees discussed the letter from Robert Nehls and complaints called in to the township by other residents. William Rofkar said legally residents need to send a letter to the Trustees requesting the cutting of noxious weeds and the letter needs to be signed. He stated a complaint made to the township by phone is not sufficient. William Rofkar said the Trustees can not by law cut grass on private property because the grass is deemed too long. He said the law does allow the township to cut noxious weeds. Gary Mortus said the township will send a letter of notice first to the property owner and if a resolution is not met the township will take further action.

William Rofkar said regarding the letter submitted by Robert Nehls a letter will be sent to the property owner. He said if they do not take action the township may decide to cut the grass and noxious weeds and charges will be applied to the owner’s tax duplicate. William Rofkar noted The Ohio Revised Code allows for the cutting only two or three times per season. Gary Mortus said the charges would be substantial including equipment charge, hourly wage, benefits, and transportation.

Gary Mortus made a motion to adjourn the meeting. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.



______________________________ _____________________________
Matt Montowski, Chairman Karen Shaw, Fiscal Officer

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