Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
June 9, 2026
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Diane Belden on Tuesday, June 9th at 9:00 a.m. in the conference room of the administration building.
In attendance were: Diane Belden, Shelly Garcia, Chris Cellier, John Gangway, Kevin Johnson, Dorthy Baker, Mary Jane Porozynski, Jack Madison, Eric Schramm, Jim Stouffer, Kim Mulholland, Emily Cellier, Ann T. Rumpf, Craig McCoy, Roland Roder, Marcia Thornhill, Flint Heidlebaugh and Greg Strayer.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Trustee Quintin Smith was not in attendance at today’s meeting and did not vote on any motions that were made.
Chris Cellier made a motion to approve the May 26, 2026, Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Chris Cellier made a motion to approve and pay the bills, including payroll, in the amount of $122,194.23. This includes a partial payment of $8,481.16 to Republic Services for Spring Clean Up, and $2,600 to Falcon Forge for our Cyber Security training. The fiscal officer also explained that the cost for the township fuel has increased significantly. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
Notice of Flag Lowering received from Governor DeWine’s office for former Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas Judge Paul C. Moon until June 6, 2026.
Notice from OSS Solid Waste District regarding Tire Collection. Anyone interested must register from May 24th – June 9th by calling 419-334-7222.
Email from the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office regarding the upcoming OPWC grant application process.
The trustees received an email from Brian Barrett who is the CEO of Echo Tech. He represents Public Safety Towers and is looking for a location to develop a telecommunications facility to support a communications tower. He stated they have identified property owned by the township at 4822 E. Cemetery Road as a well-suited location. He is requesting that the trustees consider this request and would like an opportunity to discuss the proposal further.
Diane stated that she called Mr. Barrett and asked that he send over an email to give details of this project. She asked for exact location, pictures, tower design and other pertinent information. As of today, she stated she has not received anything from him.
Chris Cellier stated that once they get more specific information, it will be brought up again and they will look at getting public input at that time.
Fiscal
Fiscal Officer Shelly Garcia provided the May 2026 financial reports and bank reconciliations. There were no questions or concerns.
Shelly Garcia advised the trustees that the next payroll date is June 19, 2026 and that is a holiday. She advised the trustees that she will be processing payroll and it will be paid one day early on June 18, 2026.
Shelly Garcia received a request from township residents to sell back a cemetery plot that was bought back in 2017 in the amount of $325. They stated they found two other plots that they would like to purchase for $500/each (current rate) and apply the $325 credit to that purchase. The trustees agreed to allow this to take place.
Request received from the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office for a resolution authorizing the County Engineer to issue rights-of-way and easement permits for public roads on behalf of the township. They are requesting the township approve a resolution and appoint someone at the township to review the permits.
Shelly Garcia wrote up Resolution #0609-26 and read the resolution into record.
The trustees asked zoning inspector Jean Hartline if she would be the designated township representative for this process and she accepted.
Chris Cellier made a motion to approve Resolution #0609-26 to the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office as presented. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
The two trustees present at the meeting signed the resolution, and Shelly Garcia sent it to the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office. Quintin Smith did not sign this resolution.
Maintenance
Kevin Johnson stated that they have began turning off some of the township building lights due to the mayflies.
Kevin stated that he contacted Kreimes regarding the paving of Basin, and they have pushed back the start date until July due to weather related issues.
Diane asked about the status of the fence removal of the tennis courts so they can begin the repaving project.
Kevin stated that he was just in contact with them yesterday and will get a start date as soon as possible.
Jack Madison stated that he will let Kreimes know when this fence is taken down so they can begin repaving.
Kevin stated he is still getting materials being dumped at the compost facility that are not allowed. He stated this past week there was a dresser, mirror, rebar, plastic edging and many other things that are not allowed.
The discussion of cameras and signs for the compost facility was brought up again. Chief Gangway stated that he and Kevin have a meeting with the representative supplying the new cameras and plate readers that were approved at the last meeting. They will be determining where the best area is for installation and equipment storage.
FIRE
Eric Schramm gave the run totals for May. There were 28 total fire/EMS runs. 7 fire and 21 EMS
Police
Chief Gangway stated that his department is fielding many calls regarding complaints of utility companies such as Frontier boring on private property. He stated that these companies do not have legal permission to be on private property unless the HOA or subdivision allows them to be there. They would be considered trespassing if they do not have authorization.
He stated they are not PUCO regulated and wanted to make the trustees aware of this issue.
New Business
Diane stated that township employees completed the Cyber-Security training on May 28, 2026.
Marcia Thornhill asked the trustees about the Bolte property purchase that was mentioned in the May 12, 2026 meeting minutes.
The trustees explained that they were given an opportunity to purchase 9.7 acres of property owned by the Bolte family. They stated they approved a contract that holds the property to give the trustees an 18-month option so they have time to apply for grants towards the purchase, get a formal appraisal, and compile the necessary information to see if this purchase is a possibility. They have not approved the purchase of this property.
Members of the audience asked what this property would be used for. Jack Madison spoke up and stated that we have a huge drainage issue on the island and the purchase of this property would possibly help alleviate that issue. He stated there is a large area that would be able to help slow the flow of water and get absorption into the ground.
Dorthy Baker stated that this purchase would also keep it from being developed.
Chris reiterated that we only entered into an 18-month contract to give the township the exclusive option to purchase, and do the appropriate research and studies to determine if this is the right purchase for the township.
Jim Stouffer wanted to thank Chief Gangway for his help regarding an incident with a utility company subcontractor that hit a utility pole on his property. He stated that they were trespassing on his property and is glad the township has advised that these companies are not allowed to be there if they do not have permission.
Chris Cellier made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Diane Belden seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:43 a.m.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Diane Belden, Chairman Shelly Garcia, Fiscal Officer