Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
August 25, 2026
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Diane Belden on Tuesday, August 25th at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of the administration building.
In attendance were: Diane Belden, Shelly Garcia, Chris Cellier, Quintin Smith, John Gangway, Kevin Johnson, Dorthy Baker, William Baker, Lisa Murphy, Jack Madison, Jim Stouffer, Ann T. Rumpf, Randy Riedmaier, Craig McCoy, Flint Heidlebaugh, Keith Fisher, DJ Litz, Michael Hablitzel, Dan Barlow, Greg Strayer, Janet Kinsala, Genna Blakley, Geena Bishop, Dan Blakley, Richard Helsper and Brian Washburn.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Quintin Smith made a motion to approve the August 11, 2026, Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented. Chris Cellier seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Quintin Smith made a motion to approve and pay the bills, including payroll, in the amount of $76,635.21. Chris Cellier seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
A thank you note from Alison Falls was received thanking the trustees for allowing her use of the Community Hall on Sept. 16, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for Magruder Hospital to do a presentation regarding MRI Technology that will be free and open to the public. Presenters include Nick Marsico, President and CEO of Magruder Hospital and Robin Lemley, Senior Director of Ancillary Services.
Two approved permits (26-121 & 26-295) were received by Ottawa Co. Engineers Office for work being done within the township by Frontier and Kuras Excavating LLC
On September 30, 2026 the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office and Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District invite the trustees to attend a meeting regarding storm water management and the upcoming renewal of the Ohio EPA Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. The trustees said they will be in attendance.
Maintenance
Kevin Johnson said he is working on ideas to replace, alter or move the sign in front of the Administration Building as there have been complaints that it blocks the view of drivers pulling out of the township parking lot. He will advise the trustees of various ideas once he has them.
They are still waiting on the guardrail to be put up at Basin Drive, and the fence at Heigel Park. He stated that he was told by Adkins Fence that we are on their schedule, and they hope to be out next week
Diane Belden thanked the maintenance department for the wonderful job they did setting up for the America 250 Celebration that took place at the cemetery last week.
Police
Chief Gangway received a request from the Team Mary 5K to close Carolina Street again this year on September 20th from 10:00am-11:00am. All trustees agreed to this request.
Fire
Brian Washburn stated they will be having their annual preventative maintenance on the Fire Dept. ladders this Friday.
The Fire Dept. radios will also be getting preventive maintenance, and they will also be switching the vendors from Cleveland Communication to Vasu Communications.
They are also looking at updating their current paging system as the current system is 40 years old and the county stated they can no longer continue to repair or put money into this old system. A quote from Vasu was presented to update the Fire Dept. paging system. The trustees stated they would like more information regarding this new system, and a better understanding of what exactly is needed. Chief Gangway said he would give Chris Cellier the number for the contact person at the county. They will revisit this issue at the next meeting.
Quintin Smith addressed the EMS post that the fire department put out last week. He requested the department come and do a presentation to offer another option for getting EMS back on Catawba Island so the community can participate as well.
Chris Cellier stated that they need to get a third party in to do an analysis to see what is needed and what is best for the township regarding the EMS issues on Catawba.
Chief Gangway stated he will be getting more information on potential grant funding for EMS options. He will report back to the trustees once he meets with them tomorrow and advise on what all the grant funding process entails.
Parks
Jack Madison stated they are looking into purchasing temporary nets for the tennis courts so they can be converted into pickleball courts.
The Fall Walk will be October 10th this year.
Jack stated the board is looking into adding additional members to the Park Board.
New Business
Quintin Smith stated he received a response back regarding the tower project. He stated they came back with a revised lease agreement to include a $2,500 monthly rent payment instead of the original $1,500. They also included a 2% annual escalator which Quintin responded back requesting a 2.5% annual escalator. The trustees all agreed that if they decided to go through with the tower placement on township property, they will need to have the prosecutor’s office look at the lease prior to approval.
Quintin brought up the issue of a Nuisance Property Resolution. He presented the trustees with a draft of a resolution. He stated that the township needs a method of being able to deal with property owners that allow their property to get to the point where the township needs to intervene. It will go to the prosecutor’s office for feedback and review.
Quintin provided the trustees with a flow chart for the drainage/stormwater review process. He has been working with the county on this issue. The county commissioners need to adopt a county wide drainage and stormwater process. He would like to invite them to come to a township meeting.
Quintin stated that he would like to look into additional staffing in the administration office. He would like to add a part-time person that would be able to assist the zoning inspector and stated that the township is going to have more and more zoning requests and he would like to consider this as a possibility. They will keep this on their radar.
Chris Cellier made a motion to adopt the Cyber Security Program and framework provided by Falcon Forge, and implement the policy in the compliance evidence playbook. Quintin Smith seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Diane Belden stated she was contacted by Jannah from the Parks District regarding the resurfacing of the tennis courts. We will need to provide them with pictures and send a letter once the fence is up. Jack Madison stated once this is done, they will get the sign from the county board.
Bruce Buckingham is requesting permission again this year to band the Saw Whet Owls in Cedar Meadows and Catawba Preserve. The trustees all agreed to allow this.
William Baker asked if anyone has contacted Billy Market about a walking path from the Miller Ferry down Crogan Street. Diane stated that it is on her to do list to contact him.
Quintin Smith made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Chris Cellier seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Diane Belden, Chairman Shelly Garcia, Fiscal Officer