Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
August 22, 2023
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Matt Montowski on Tuesday, August 22, at 9:00 a.m. in the conference room
of the administration building.
In attendance were: Diane Belden, William Rofkar, Matt Montowski, Karen Shaw,
John Gangway, Kevin Johnson, Jack Madison, Dorothy Baker, William Baker, Lisa Murphy,
Kevin Baron, Charles Bell, Bob Schanz, Joy Noren, and Patty Wildman
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve the August 8, 2023, Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented. William Rofkar 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 $127,998.39. The total includes a payment of $42,187.50 to the City of Port Clinton for Emergency Medical Services. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
An email from David Wonnell of the Catawba Island Historical Society requesting use of the Community Hall on October 18, for their annual membership business meeting and Cultural Lecture Series fall speaker. The speaker event is open to the public.
Trustees agreed the CIHS could use the Community Hall and waived the rental fee.
An email from Linda Holcomb expressing concern with two large dead trees overhanging into her backyard on Karwood Drive.
Matt Montowski said he sees the situation as a civil matter and not a township matter.
An email from Suzy Wittenmyer encouraging the posting of “The Jill Felber Concert” on the township marquis as she is returning for a free concert. Concert donations will benefit the music departments in Port Clinton City Schools.
A letter from the Black Swamp Conservancy regarding the annual monitoring visit that took place on August 10, to assess compliance with terms of the conservation easement for the Cedar Meadow Preserve. It was noted that overall the property looked great and to be sure that the trails are being mowed no wider than five feet with five foot mowed buffers on either side.
A letter from Jannah Wilson of the Park District of Ottawa County regarding the Master Plan for Phase One of the Catawba Islander Trail and Greenway. Four potential route options were included in the plan and the Board of Park Commissioners will discuss the selection of a preferred route for Phase One in 2024.
An email from Eric Schramm requesting the placement of an AED at Heigel Park for use in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.
An email from Vicki Wheatley of the Parks Board, announcing speaker Peter Huston rescheduled his presentation for Thursday, September 7.
A letter from the Ottawa County Board of Elections regarding the General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
The Summer 2023 newsletter from the Ottawa County Community Foundation.
The Summer/Fall 2023 newsletter from the Ottawa Soil & Water Conservation District.
A letter from Ohio Telecom regarding the changes and improvements to come as they begin to migrate services and platforms to Omni Fiber.
Fiscal
William Rofkar made a motion to adopt a Resolution accepting and certifying the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 2024 as estimated by the Ottawa County Auditor. Rates to be levied include 4.2 Inside Mills and 4.3 Outside Mills. Diane Belden seconded the motion. Vote on the Motion: Diane Belden, aye; Matt Montowski, aye; William Rofkar, aye. Motion carried.
Fiscal Officer Karen Shaw said notification was received from the Ottawa County Budget Commission that Catawba Island Township’s share of Local Government funds for 2024 is estimated to be $21,058.78.
Karen Shaw said the township received the second half real estate property tax settlement with a net distribution of $740,413.07.
Zoning
Matt Montowski made a motion to accept the resignation of Sandra Erwin from the Board of Zoning Appeals effective August 21, 2023. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Maintenance
Maintenance Supervisor Kevin Johnson said the International truck is back in service and Selking International found another item in need of repair.
Karen Shaw stated the price difference was $163.73 in addition to what was previously approved.
Kevin Johnson presented two bids for grinding mulch and rolling piles at the compost facility; Barnes Nursery $50,900 and Lake Erie Tree Service $24,850.
William Rofkar made a motion to contract with Lake Erie Tree Service to grind and haul away three fourths of the wood waste and roll and move piles per quote specifications for $24,850. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Karen Shaw said the air conditioning unit at the fire station was repaired by Bayside Comfort Inc. for $4,099. William Rofkar approved of the repair in the two weeks since the last regular meeting.
Police
Police Chief John Gangway requested to close Carolina Street in Gem Beach from approximately 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 17, for the annual Team Mary 5k.
Trustees agreed Carolina Street could be closed as requested for the Team Mary 5k event.
John Gangway said police are prepared for the additional traffic due to the Bash on the Bay event.
New Business
Trustees discussed the idea of an AED at Heigel Park addressing the request by Eric Schramm. As discussed in previous meetings, vandalism is a concern as well as battery life due to the hot and cold weather conditions.
John Gangway said an AED is carried in the police vehicle which is usually first to respond on scene. He said one AED is rotated between vehicles but a second unit would be helpful when two officers are on duty. He said four days a week two officers are on duty from 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Trustees agreed a second AED for the police department is a good idea and requested an estimate.
Trustees agreed that soccer league coaches could purchase and carry an AED to rotate as necessary.
Diane Belden said Saturday, August 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the fire department will be collecting donations for the family of Hazel Brown at four stationary locations.
Diane Belden said Reggie Langford expressed appreciation for the surplus military medallions the township donated to Brown Township and forwarded a photo of the medallions now installed in the cemetery with the flag that he donated.
Matt Montowski said a complaint was received regarding an open door at a vacant house on Konker Road and cats living in the house. Matt Montowski said a letter was mailed to the homeowner and he will continue to follow up on the situation.
Matt Montowski said Doug Coppeler forwarded a letter concerning noxious weeds encroaching his property and he would like the township to address his nuisance vegetation complaint. Matt Montowski said the property owner of the development was sent a letter on July 26 and he responded on August 1. Matt Montowski said he also followed up with a phone call. Matt Montowski said nothing has been resolved and he is still of the mind that the property is not in a zoning violation. Matt Montowski said it is not in violation of the Regional Planning Subdivision and the owner is in good standing with the Ottawa County Engineer’s regulations and all permits are in order for a subdivision underway. Matt Montowski said winter is coming and the weeds are going to die and he is not in a position to declare noxious weeds and go in and clean up a construction site where fifteen houses would be involved. Matt Montowski said the property owner said he would take a look and consider his options and it has not been a month yet so we should be reasonable with him.
William Rofkar said he agrees it is a permitted site and to do anything we would likely end up in court and we would have to defend it and if we cannot defend it we would end up paying for it.
Charles Bell spoke on behalf of Harbor Park Marina and said they would like to work with the Trustees to prevent a single wide from being placed in their association in the future. He said sometimes in the winter people decide to do a project and do not contact the association and then get approval from township zoning although Harbor Park would not have approved the project. Charles Bell said they would like some recourse for actions taken when not first approved.
Matt Montowski said the township does not enforce private deed restrictions so Harbor Park would need to tighten up their restrictions and review process.
Lisa Murphy asked if the commercial companies pay a fee to utilize the compost facility.
William Rofkar said he is convinced that the only way you are going to have a true system of collecting money and making sure there is no contamination and that things are done in an orderly fashion is to have someone sit there. He said he cannot personally justify the salary and benefits it would take to put a person there based on what we pay for the grinding and maintenance necessary for the area. William Rofkar said maybe over time it will become necessary.
Diane Belden made a motion to adjourn the meeting. William Rofkar seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:53 a.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Matt Montowski, Chairman Karen Shaw, Fiscal Officer