Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
November 13, 2018
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Gary Mortus on Tuesday, November 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room.
In attendance were Gary Mortus, Matt Montowski, William Rofkar, Karen Shaw, Dan Barlow,
John Gangway, Will Moore Jr., John Meister, Allen Stryker, Diane Belden, Rick Smetzer,
Glenda Ward, Lawrene Montowski, Randy Riedmaier and Jack DeVore.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve the October 23, 2018 Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented and the November 2, special meeting minutes regarding salt. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve and pay the bills, total includes the last two payrolls, in the amount of $122,014.05. The total on the bills also includes the final payment of $15,778.04 to Buckeye Excavating & Construction, Inc. for the cemetery drainage project, a partial payment of $7,535.04 to Republic Services for the fall clean up, and a payment of $5,090 to Davenport Sign and Art for the new recycled Cedar Meadow Nature Preserve signage and installation for which the township will receive a grant reimbursement of $4,115 from the Solid Waste District.
William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
A postcard of Dates to Remember from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Ottawa Lucas East County Farm Service Agency.
Fiscal
Fiscal Officer Karen Shaw presented the October 2018 financial reports and bank reconciliation. There were no questions or concerns.
Fire
Will Moore Jr. reported that volunteer fire department members recently had a training session which included a gear check. He said all equipment is in good working condition. Will Moore said truck 21 has been repaired and is back in service.
Zoning
Matt Montowski said there were ten zoning permits and one variance issued in October with a total of $936.68 collected in fees.
Maintenance
Maintenance Supervisor Dan Barlow said the French drain project on Carolina Street should be completed within a day or two. He said Gill Construction notified him they will be ready to begin the drain repair project on Hickory Ridge when they have completed the Carolina Street project.
Dan Barlow said the shipment of 200 tons of salt has been received and is tarped and ready for winter. He said one maintenance vehicle is still out for repair but is expected back by the end of the week.
New Business
Diane Belden reminded Trustees that the Wreaths Across America Day of Remembrance will take place Saturday, December 15, at 11:00 a.m. She said there will be a wreath laying ceremony at Catawba Island Cemetery in addition to services in Port Clinton and Marblehead.
Rick Smetzer questioned the large size of the “coming soon” signage in front of the Dollar General building project. He also questioned the site plan approved for the Dollar General stating he thought the building was supposed to have brick on all four exterior walls.
Matt Montowski said he will talk to Zoning Inspector Todd Bickley regarding the size of the sign, but that Zoning does not control the look of the exterior of the building.
Glenda Ward asked the Trustees if they would consider putting together an architectural review board or committee in order to avoid another similar store being built in the community.
Diane Belden suggested amending the zoning resolution. She said adding guidelines to the resolution via text amendments would be a viable option to establish some perimeters for future development.
The Trustees said they have not seen any interest in an architectural review board for the township.
John Meister and Allen Stryker said they felt there was interest in an architectural review board.
Gary Mortus made a motion to request the Zoning Commission investigate an architectural review board. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski said he received a letter from Flint Heidlebaugh expressing he would be in favor of a shuffleboard court being installed at Heigel Park.
Matt Montowski asked if there was any further consideration by the board to designate five or six parking spaces for Cedar Meadow Preserve near the pavilion.
Gary Mortus said he feels individuals coming to visit and walk the nature preserve will not have any concerns with walking the short distance from the paved parking lot to the entrance. Gary Mortus said he felt parking near the pavilion would interfere with police, fire, and maintenance personnel and that it would be a safety concern.
William Rofkar said there are designated handicap parking spaces on the other side of the administration building located closer to the entrance. William Rofkar added that if someone with a special need were to drive right out to the nature preserve entrance and park they would not get in trouble but the Trustees are trying to minimize the interaction with service personnel.
Matt Montowski made a motion to participate in the Ottawa County Engineers 2019 Road Resurfacing Program according to the provided estimates which include: Hickory Ridge $45,676.74; Woodland Drive $76,081.55; and Valley Drive $28,006.04 for an estimated total of $149,764.33. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Gary Mortus made a motion to join the Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
William Rofkar made a motion to contract the township’s healthcare benefit renewal through Ohio Insurance Services Agency, Inc. with Anthem SOCA BP and designate Fiscal Officer Karen Shaw to complete the necessary paperwork on behalf of the township. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve payment of expenses for the Township Trustees and Fiscal Officer to attend the 2019 Ohio Township Association Winter Conference in January. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Trustees agreed to change the final regular meeting of the year from Tuesday, December 25,
at 7:30 p.m. to Thursday, December 27, at 9:00 a.m. which will include the reorganization for 2019.
Matt Montowski made a motion to adjourn the meeting. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
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Gary Mortus, Chairman Karen Shaw, Fiscal Officer