Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
November 28, 2023
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Matt Montowski on Tuesday, November 28, at 9:00 a.m. in the conference room of the administration building.
In attendance were: Diane Belden, William Rofkar, Matt Montowski, Mary Jane Porozynski,
John Gangway, Kevin Johnson, William Moore, Jr., Marty Auxter, Jack Madison, Brad Schwan, Dorothy Baker, William Baker, and Lisa Murphy
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve the November 14, 2023, Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. William Rofkar and
Matt Montowski voted aye. Motion carried.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve and pay the bills, including the payroll, in the amount of $80,077.08. The total includes a payment of $9,255.90 to the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office for road striping. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
A letter from Erin Patton of Ohio Public Entity Consortium regarding an increase in the monthly administrative fee from $7.00 to $7.50 per employee for a two year period.
Maintenance
Maintenance Supervisor Kevin Johnson said a day of leaf pickup was lost last week due to the need to rebuild liners inside the leaf vacuum. He said the unit was down for a day but is now operational.
Kevin Johnson said maintenance personnel will pull the docks at the marina this week, continue clean up in the cemetery, and prepare for winter. He said they will continue to pick up leaves until all are removed and will make one final brush pick up for the year.
Police
Police Chief John Gangway said the second AED was delivered and is now in service. He said additional supplies will be necessary to accompany the new AEDs.
John Gangway asked Trustees to consider a new wage and benefit package for newly hired police so the open position can be advertised. He said the first of the year would be a good start date and the department will cover additional shifts with overtime in December.
Trustees asked John Gangway to submit a wage increase recommendation for police personnel in an effort to remain competitive with other Ottawa County law enforcement agencies.
Fire
Assistant Fire Chief William Moore Jr. said the department responded to a structure fire on Thanksgiving Day with a response time of just seven minutes. He said Port Clinton and Danbury Fire Departments also responded. William Moore Jr. said the historical sign in front of the building was salvaged before the structure was brought down.
John Gangway said the Catawba Island Historical Society is interested in the sign.
Matt Montowski made a motion to pay The Holcomb Group of Companies $1,500 for excavation of the home at 5225 E. Porter Street due to fire damage. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
William Moore Jr. said knocking the structure down is not standard operating procedure but the structure was so heavily damaged that the department didn’t feel comfortable putting anyone inside of it or on the roof. He said there was also a lingering attic fire they could not get extinguished and would have likely continued to burn over the next 48 hours.
Diane Belden made a motion to pay Ross Valve Manufacturing Co. $475 for parts needed to repair truck 220. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Parks
Brad Schwan reported on progress at the Pickleball courts and said the skirts have been graded, the remaining section of drainage tile is complete, and the fence guard is installed with the exception of 15 feet.
Brad Schwan said Trustees were approached by the youth soccer folks about putting up a bearer or snow fence on the south end of the soccer field. He said the Parks Board discussed the matter and the recommendation is that it is not necessary and probably not appropriate.
New Business
William Rofkar asked Mary Jane Porozynski to follow up with the status of the letter that was mailed certified to the owner of the home on Konker Road.
Diane Belden said the Veterans Area project is complete and she would like to hold a dedication ceremony for the new Veterans Area and wall during the Wreaths Across America ceremony on Saturday, December 16.
Trustees agreed to a dedication of the new Veterans Area to be held at the same time as Wreaths Across America.
Diane Belden said an individual asked if a military emblem can be added to a Columbarium niche plaque already in place.
Trustees agreed additional emblems from Coldspring can be added to the Columbarium niche plaques at the owner’s expense and that township maintenance personnel will add the emblems with epoxy provided by the manufacturer.
Trustees agreed to move the final meeting of the year from Tuesday, December 26, to Thursday, December 28, at 9:00 a.m.
Dorothy Baker said the Catawba Island Garden Club would like to place double wall planters with greenery on either side of the Community Hall entrance doors to show appreciation for allowing the Garden Club to hold their annual plant sale at the hall. She said the planters will be filled with Christmas greenery for the season and the Garden Club will change plants out in the spring.
Trustees agreed the planters can be placed at the Community Hall as requested.
Dorothy Baker said a couple members of the Catawba Island Garden Club are going to work with the Catawba Island Parks Board to come up with a plan to recommend to Trustees for a community garden.
William Baker asked if insurance would cover the cost of the Porter Street property excavation.
Matt Montowski said Township Trustees oversee the fire department and it is technically our responsibility as we needed to keep the area safe, it is part of the cost of doing business therefore it should be paid.
William Rofkar said there was an excavator brought out to the scene the night of the fire and that is considered part of our fire service so we will pay the invoice. He said anything done with the remaining pile of rubble is the responsibility of the home owner and not the township.
Diane Belden made a motion to adjourn the meeting. William Rofkar seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 a.m.
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Matt Montowski, Chairman Karen Shaw, Fiscal Officer