Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
September 12, 2023
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Matt Montowski on Tuesday, September 12, 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, Dorothy Baker, William Baker, Lisa Murphy, Jannah Wilson,
Joy Noren, Ann Rumpf, Roey Shessler, and Bill Lehner
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve the August 22, 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 two payrolls, in the amount of $129,502.79. The total includes a payment of $57,000 to Masonry Construction for work on the cemetery Veterans Area. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
An email from Lisa Murphy requesting use of the Community Hall to hold a Princess themed party for Hazel Brown.
Trustees agreed Lisa Murphy could use the Community Hall and waived the rental fee.
An email from Jannah Wilson regarding the Park District of Ottawa County Outdoor Hiking Challenge and a related sign being placed at the Cedar Meadow trail head.
An email from Jannah Wilson regarding the Park District’s Clean Ohio Application for funding of a parcel in Catawba Island Township and a request for a letter of support from the Trustees.
An email from Ron Lajti regarding a Safe Streets for All federal grant that the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office received to put together an all-inclusive plan to improve a regional four county transportation infrastructure.
An email from Bruce Buckingham requesting permission to set up nets in the nature preserves for Saw-Whet Owl banding.
Trustees agreed Bruce Buckingham can continue to use the parks for Saw-Whet Owl banding.
Fiscal
Fiscal Officer Karen Shaw presented the August 2023 financial reports and bank reconciliation. There were no questions or concerns.
Zoning
Matt Montowski said there were twelve zoning permits issued in August and three variances with a total of $1,691.32 collected in fees. He said twenty new home permits have been issued this year.
Maintenance
William Rofkar made a motion to purchase material from SealMaster for $3,240 to seal various township roads. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
William Rofkar made a motion to contract with Ashcraft Tree Service in the amount of $5,760 to remove nine trees and/or stumps located in the road right of way of various township roads. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Maintenance Supervisor Kevin Johnson said Lake Erie Tree Service will begin mulch grinding in the coming week.
Police
Police Chief John Gangway presented a quote for an in car camera for the new police vehicle.
Diane Belden made a motion to purchase an in car video system for the police from Motorola Solutions for $5,950.40. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
John Gangway presented a quote for an AED as a second unit to be used in police vehicles.
Diane Belden made a motion to purchase a recertified AED for use by police from Bound Tree Medical, LLC for $1,000. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Fire
Diane Belden reported Catawba Island fire department personnel responded to 10 fire calls and 20 EMS runs for a total of 30 calls responded to in June. She said members responded to 16 fire calls and 30 EMS runs for a total of 46 calls responded to in July. Diane Belden said fire department personnel responded to 9 fire calls and 41 EMS runs for a total of 50 calls responded to in August.
Diane Belden made a motion to renew the Ohio State Firefighters Association Accident and Sickness policy with Ohio Public Risk Ins. Agency dba VFIS of Ohio for $2,130 effective
October 9, 2023 through October 9, 2024. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
New Business
William Rofkar said a complaint was received about an unsecured building located at 4405 E. Konker with no door and numerous cats living in the building. He said a courtesy letter requesting the building be boarded up was ignored. William Rofkar said with the Board’s permission he will follow up with the legal matters necessary to secure the building.
Trustees agreed William Rofkar should pursue the matter further to have the building secured.
Diane Belden said Bill Rigoni has requested to rent the Community Hall for Rhinoh Wrestling on four Wednesdays during the year from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and charge admission with the proceeds benefiting youth wrestling programs.
Diane Belden agreed to review the request with the township’s risk manager.
Matt Montowski said the top cap of the Veterans area wall being constructed in the cemetery was supposed to be 2’ by 4” but 2’ by 8” caps were shipped. He said Masonry Construction made the wall thicker to accommodate the larger cap at no additional charge.
Jannah Wilson of the Park District of Ottawa County said they have submitted the Clean Ohio Application. She spoke about the 7.5 acre parcel of woodlands in Catawba Island they hope to purchase for public green space with a minimal trail and a pond with access for public fishing.
Jannah Wilson spoke briefly about the Master Plan for the Catawba Islander Trail and Greenway and noted they have put the brakes on the project until 2024 when they will make a decision on a preferred route. She said the maps included in the Mater Plan are just preliminary and are not necessarily routes they will go with especially if the 7.5 acre parcel is acquired by the Park District.
Matt Montowski said the township has a lot of concerns with the proposed Master Plan, especially with any increased traffic at the north end near the Miller Ferry. He read a letter addressing those concerns drafted from the Trustees to be forwarded to the Park District of Ottawa County.
Jannah Wilson reiterated that the maps included in the Master Plan were very preliminary and they have included additional information in the Master Plan including that the North Point Preserve was not approved to be utilized and the communications in detail that the Park District had with the Ottawa County Engineer, the Catawba Island Police Chief and Township Trustees. She said the maps are preliminary for informational purposes only and have not been selected as route options. Jannah Wilson said the Park District Board understands the concerns with additional traffic congestion.
William Rofkar said it is confusing because the document is referred to as the Master Plan but it only has one phase outlined.
Jannah Wilson said trail planning is very time consuming and expensive and they felt phase one was something they could move forward on while continuing to evaluate the remaining four phases of the trail. She said they have also learned a lot and will likely have a different approach moving forward.
Dorothy Baker suggested signs at Miller Ferry encouraging pedestrians to walk on the correct side of the road.
Bill Lehner from Chickadee Drive asked Trustees if there is any resolution to their smelly unsanitary ditch.
Matt Montowski said he looked into the matter and forwarded all the information he had from the Ottawa County Health Department to Roey Shessler.
William Rofkar said the matter was turned over to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ottawa County Health Department and Sanitary Engineer have been involved for 20 plus years. He said it is not our jurisdiction and we have done all we can do.
Diane Belden made a motion to adjourn the meeting. William Rofkar seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Matt Montowski, Chairman Karen Shaw, Fiscal Officer