Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
April 22, 2025
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman William Rofkar on Tuesday, April 22, at 9:00 a.m. in the conference room of the administration building.
In attendance were: Diane Belden, William Rofkar, Matt Montowski, Shelly Garcia, John Gangway, Kevin Johnson, Lisa Murphy, Mary Jane Porozynski, Jack Madison, Dan Barlow, Dorthy Baker, William Baker, Bryan Baugh, Scott Hines, Kim Mulholland, Kimberly Schaffer, Craig Graham, Richard Helsper and Ann Rumpf.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve the April 8, 2025 Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve and pay the bills, including payroll, in the amount of $155,613.68. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried. These bills include the quarterly Vol. Fire Dept. payroll, a payment of $42,187.50 to the City of Port Clinton for the first quarter EMS Services, $56,244 to JVS for replacement garage doors at the Fire Department and $7,500 to Bill’s Implements for the township mower lease trade in program.
Correspondence
The 2024 Ottawa County and Ottawa Co. Engineers Annual Reports was received and will be kept in the Fiscal Officers office for anyone wishing to review.
Main Street Port Clinton submitted a sponsorship application for the 2025 Walleye Festival.
Police Officer James Stewart requested use of the Community Hall for a birthday party on June 7, 2025 and requested the fee be waived. All trustees agreed to this request.
An invitation from IMSA was received inviting township employees to their four-day public safety expo.
The EPA submitted their 2024 Annual Report and letter of compliance for the township’s composting annual operations. The township was in compliance with Ohio laws and no deficiencies were found. William Rofkar thanked Maintenance Supervisor, Kevin Johnson, and his crew for maintaining the compost facility in such a great way.
Six letters were received regarding trustee meeting times. They request the trustees look into moving the monthly meeting times (or at least one of them each month) back to 6:00 pm to be more convenient for some residents that cannot make the 9:00 am meetings. William Rofkar stated that meeting times are made and approved at the reorganizational meetings that are usually in December or January. He stated that they will consider the time change at the next reorganizational meeting. Diane Belden stated that last time the meeting change was done in mid-April about two years ago to change the meetings to 9:00 am, so I can be done apart from the reorganizational meeting. William Rofkar stated that it can, however, trustees and others who are required to attend the meetings have already set their schedules well in advance to accommodate for the meeting times and it will be revisited at the next reorganizational meeting.
Lisa Murphy asked what the hesitancy was on changing the times. William Rofkar stated that they have looked closely at the time changes as they used to have one meeting in the morning and one at night and found that there were no real differences in how things played out. They were not seeing any different faces in the morning meetings as opposed to the evening meetings. He stated changing meeting times now, will create conflict as schedules have already been set based on current meeting times. He stated there is no hardship, and anyone can get ahold of any of the trustees by phone, email or in person as evident by the emails that were read here today.
Matt Montowski stated that he personally contacted three of the six residents that submitted letters. He stated if we change the meeting time to 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm some might have a conflict as that is around dinner time or they may work at night. He stated it is too hard to try to please everyone, and that what is being done is working. They did six months of night meetings and six months of day meetings and if you look at the sign in sheet and go back to the meeting minutes there is no real difference in the number of attendees.
Richard Helsper stated that he used to be a regular at the meetings but when he opened a restaurant it was too hard for him to come at night. He suggested alternating one day and one night meeting but agreed that it was too hard to try to satisfy everyone all the time.
Ann Rumpf stated that she appreciated Matt’s call regarding the meeting times and stated that she has always gotten an answer right away whenever she called with questions or needed something. She did say that she thinks a compromise would be one morning and one evening meeting.
Fiscal
Fiscal Officer Shelly Garcia reported that the 2023 & 2024 township audit was completed last week by Charles E. Harris & Associates and they found the township in compliance and there were no issues or concerns with the books or records of Catawba Island Township. They will submit their complete report in the next week or so.
The Resolution Authorizing Participation in the ODOT Road Salt Contracts in 2025 that was discussed at the last meeting but was left pending awaiting final numbers from Kevin Johnson is ready for approval. Kevin would like to obtain 175 ton of salt for the summer and an additional 300 ton for winter for a total of 475 ton for the contract.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve participation in the ODOT Annual Salt Contract Bid as presented. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Hylant Administration Services submitted the Ohio Plan Package Proposal regarding the township’s insurance coverage. The yearly premium has increased by $986 from last year to accommodate for the addition of a new police officer and new police vehicle.
Matt Montowski made a motion to accept the renewal plan as presented by Hylant for the township property and casualty insurance. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Maintenance
Kevin Johnson stated that clean up days are this Friday and Saturday.
Police
Chief Gangway requested to take Officer Danklefsen off probation as his six-month anniversary at the township will be May 4, 2025, and he is working out very well. He requested to increase his salary by $2 as was approved at hire.
Diane Belden made a motion to remove Officer Danklefsen from probation and increase his pay by $2. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Chief Gangway stated that he received a quote from Vance’s Law Enforcement for seven 9mm side arms and one patrol rifle. This will replace the personal firearms that the officers carry and change to department issued. The 7 pistols with 3 magazines each, holster, lights and pouches total $5,682.67 to which they are giving a trade in amount of $4,615.00 for 41 old/confiscated firearms. The total for the pistols will be $1,067.67. The cost of the patrol rifle is $1,439.02 for a total of $2,506.69 for all. Chief Gangway request to include a bit more in the PO to include customized grips if needed.
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve the trade in of 41 firearms to Vance’ Law Enforcement for a total of $4,615.00, and the purchase of 7 pistols, magazines, lights, holsters, pouches and one patrol rifle as presented by the quotes provided, not to exceed $2,800.00. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Chief Gangway also provided a quote from GNS for (VIPRE) anti-virus software for the townships 13 computers. The quote provides a one-year option and a three-year option. The quote was for $1,014.00 for the three-year option. All trustees agreed the three-year option would be best.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve the quote from GNS in the amount of $1,014.00 as presented. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Parks
Jack Madison stated that the Parks Grant was approved to complete the parking lot but not the trail. This goes back to previous discussions regarding the Ottawa Co. Parks District grant money that was requested for the exercise trail at Heigle Park. They have since went back to request a modification in how the money is to be spent and it was approved for a parking lot by the fire station to allow parking for Cedar Medows Preserve (the trail from parking lot to entrance was denied). The Parks Board made a recommendation to the trustees to pursue the grant just for the parking lot. This will be an enhancement to Cedar Meadows. An estimate is needed to be broken down to show just the cost of the parking lot and not the trail included in it.
Matt Montowski would like to make a motion to amend the grant to the Ottawa Co. Parks District for a project to enhance Cedar Meadows with an updated parking lot approx. 60 ft. x 20 ft. and asphalted. William Rofkar seconded the motion. Matt and William both voted aye, Diane Belden opposed. Motion carried.
Diane Belden stated that she is not in favor of spending $20,000 on a parking lot that we really do not need. Matt Montowski stated that it won’t be a total of $20,000 as the estimate includes the trail that will need to be removed for an accurate total. Questions came from the floor as to why the money is being spent on a parking lot when there is a parking lot at the administration building that can be utilized to access Cedar Meadows. William Rofkar stated that the Parks Board are the ones that made a recommendation to the trustees for the parking lot. If there are questions regarding why they requested to use the money for this, then it should be taken up with the Parks Board. Jack Madison stated that they still need to go in front of Ottawa Co. Parks District with the request to get approval.
New Business
Diane Belden stated that she spoke to Louise Terry regarding the Little Library Box that will be put up by the gazebo. They are looking to have a small ceremony in June to recognize this.
Matt Montowski stated that a complaint was received from Paul Rothschild who lives in the Cliff’s. He stated there is a large pot hole at the end of his drive. It was explained to him that this was not a township road and that he should contact his HOA. He was given two names of HOA members to speak to regarding this issue.
Matt Montowski also gave the Zoning Report for March. There were 13 permits and 4 variances issued for a total of $2,351.36.
Matt Montowski stated that there is a zoning commission meeting tomorrow at 7:00pm regarding a zoning request from John Kriesel to rezone a property from an R-1 to an R-3. Matt stated that depending on what happens at the meeting tomorrow, they may need to look at scheduling a public hearing on the rezoning application at the community hall (instead of at the regular trustee meeting) to accommodate a larger crowd either on May 19th or 20th. A brief discussion took place and the trustees agreed that if they need to, they should pencil in May 19th at 6:00 pm incase it needs to be heard in a larger venue.
Matt Montowski submitted Resolution #04-2025 in support of the passage of Issue 2. The State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) is a state-local government partnership program that funds local infrastructure projects in communities across Ohio. The SCIP provides essential grants, loan, and loan assistance to local governments including townships. The renewal of SCIP will not raise taxes but is critical in prevention of a gap in infrastructure. The Catawba Island Township Trustees supports Issue 2 and urges a yes vote on May 6, 2025.
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve the Resolution of Support for Issue 2. Diane Belden seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken by Fiscal Officer Shelly Garcia.
Diane Belden: Aye
William Rofkar: Aye
Matt Montowski: Aye
All voted aye. Motion carried.
William Rofkar stated that he and Kevin Johnson have a pre-construction meeting regarding the road paving project tomorrow.
Lisa Murphy asked why the township clean up dates are only 1 ½ days. William Rofkar stated that the times are monitored and set up based on trend. He stated he has also looked at how other communities do their clean up days (if they have them) and we try to find a medium ground. Kevin Johnson also stated that the landfills aren’t open on Saturdays and Sundays which creates issue.
Lisa also stated there is a pot hole on Rockledge that did not get filled. It was explained to her that the maintenance dept is aware of this and it will get patch, but Kreimes Co. has not opened yet to get this completed.
Ann Rumpf inquired about the basin issue, William stated that it was reviewed with the county and they found no failure of the walls. They stated that they can put a new cap on it and the County Engineers are looking into this fix. But safety wise, it is solid.
Kim Schaffer questioned when the meeting minutes get approved and if they must be approved before being put on line. She also asked if someone can request “unofficial” minutes before they get approved. It was explained that all meeting minutes get approved at the following trustee meeting. They are then are available on-line and posted at the administration building. They cannot be given out prior to approval in case there is an error in the minutes, as we cannot have misinformation being released.
Kim Mulholland had questions regarding the hiking path and if it was resolved by the widening of NW Catawba Road. She asked if there was going to be a path going through residential property. William Rofkar stated that the trustees do not have any thing to do with this. It is something more for the Ottawa Co. Parks District.
Matt Montowski made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 10:32 a.m.
The next meeting will be Tuesday May 13, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Willaim Rofkar, Chairman Shelly Garcia, Fiscal Officer