Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
December 24, 2024
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Diane Belden on Tuesday, December 24, 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, Dorthy Baker, Mary Jane Porozynski, David Howell, Chris Cellier, Davia Kasper and Ann Rumfp.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Prior to continuing with the regular Board of Trustees Meeting, Chairman Belden asked to go into executive session to take care of some issues that came before the board. Matt Montowski stated the Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Davia Kasper, was in attendance and per ORC 121.22 (G3) he moves that the board enter in to executive session for legal matters. This motion was seconded by William Rofkar. A roll call was conducted:
Diane Belden- yes
William Rofkar- yes
Matt Montowski- yes
All voted aye. Motion to move into executive session was carried.
Upon completion of the executive session, Diane Belden made a motion to come out of executive session. William Rofkar seconded the motion. A roll call was completed:
Diane Belden- yes
William Rofkar- yes
Matt Montowski- yes
All voted aye. Motion to come out of executive session carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve the December 10, 2024, Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve and pay the bills, including payroll, in the amount of $128,953.20. Which included payments to Bayside Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning for $45,710.10, VASU Communications for $4,462.10 and the annual BWC payment for the township. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carrie
Correspondence
The 2025 Price List from HOLCIM was received and will be forwarded to Maintenance Supervisor Kevin Johnson for cost of stone the township purchases from them.
The Ottawa County Engineers Office sent an application for a road crossing permit for a water main tap for property located at 4615 E. Muggy Road. The property owners have paid the permit fees and application filed.
Mileage Certificate Received from the Engineers Office to certify the 2024 mileage in the township. They need to have it signed by the trustees and returned and forwarded to ODOT.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve the mileage of 12.705 miles as presented. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
A letter was received from Emergency Vehicle Products regarding testing completed on all Fire Department ground ladders. It was found that all the Fire Department ladders were in good condition and not needing repairs or maintenance.
Maintenance
Nothing to report
Police
Chief Gangway stated that his request a few meetings ago for a taser for his new officer would come in under $1,000 and no need for a purchase order, however, the cost came in higher then expected and he would like to see about getting approval and a purchase order for this piece of equipment. Per the quote, the cost is $1,588.05 for the taser, battery pack and holster. He stated that he could wait until after the first of the year to make it easier if need be. It was decided that since the PO would not be approved until the next meeting (January 14, 2025), that we would wait on this request until the first meeting of the new year.
FIRE
Santa Claus made his appearance this past weekend on the fire truck.
Ann Rumpf who was in the audience stated that she was at her home with her great-grandchildren and a fire truck pulled up. They were all surprised when Santa came off the truck. She said it was truly magical and that this is exactly why she loves this area.
New Business
Matt Montowski stated there was a zoning hearing (Case #737614) brought before the Zoning Commission for a request by Lisa and Clark Coffee for a zoning amendment to change a single-family dwelling lot located at 4580 E. Barnum Road from being zoned “A” to “R-1”. They are making this request in order to split the lot into two parcels.
Letters from Ottawa Co. Regional Planning and the Catawba Island Zoning Commission were received and both have approved this request for re-zoning.
Matt Montowski asked if there was anyone in the audience present to discuss this application. The applicant was not present and no other audience members had any comments.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve the zoning amendment as presented. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski had a press release from the Ottawa Co. Township Association regarding HB315. It would give townships the flexibility to allow public notices to be advertised on their websites. It would also eliminate the requirement to go to the ballot when repairs exceed $75,000. These changes would have a positive effect on Catawba Township and would be welcome. The changes are being made to equal things out between the local governments.
Diane Belden stated that “Wreaths Across America” took place on December 14th and was a great success. She also thanked the maintenance department for their help in getting the wreaths out.
Fiscal Officer, Shelly Garcia, gave the Catawba Island Township Cemetery numbers for 2024. There were a total of 36 burials and a total of 49 deeds issued (42 graves & 7 columbarium niches) for a total of $41,950.00.
Mr. David Howell stated that he would like to acknowledge Catawba’s First Responders. He stated that he had an instance with his neighbor on Muggy Road who is 94 years old. He checks on her regularly and one day he went to check on her and she had fallen and was in excruciating pain laying on the floor. He immediately called 911. He said it felt like he waited about 20-25 minutes, when in reality it was actually 6-7 minutes before two police officers arrived. It was then another couple minutes before the Squad arrived. In the meantime, Dan Barlow had also arrived. She was loaded into the ambulance and was transported to Firelands Hospital due to the seriousness of her injuries. He stated that he was so thankful for everyone’s help and the coordination of the First Reponder’s that day was spectacular.
Reorganization for 2025
Chairman Diane Belden turned the meeting over to Fiscal Officer Shelly Garcia for the purpose of electing a Chairman for 2025.
Shelly Garcia asked for nominations for Chairman for 2025.
Matt Montowski made a motion to appoint William Rofkar Chairman for the calendar year 2025. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Shelly Garcia declared William Rofkar Chairman for 2025 and turned the meeting over to him.
William Rofkar asked for nominations for Vice Chairman for 2025.
Diane Belden made a motion to appoint Matt Montowski as Vice Chairman for the calendar year 2025. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
William Rofkar asked about meeting dates and times. Matt Montowski stated that he thought it is working how it is now (second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 9:00 am). Diane Belden stated that she would like to see one meeting in the morning and one in the evening. William Rofkar stated that both times have been tried and he would like to see it stay the way it is. The meeting times will remain at 9:00 am on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
Trustees agreed oversite of township departments will remain the same: Matt Montowski, Zoning; Diane Belden, Police and Fire; and William Rofkar, Road, Cemetery and Buildings.
Matt Montowski will continue to serve on the Regional Planning Board and Diane Belden will serve and alternate.
Matt Montowski made a motion to reappoint William Baker and Rebecca Dubber to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a five-year term expiring in December 2029 and reappoint Flint Heidlebaugh and Michael Schenk as BZA alternates for a one-year term expiring December 2025. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to reappoint Gregory Hart to the Zoning Commission for a five-year term expiring December 2029 and reappoint Bill Barnes and David Wonnell as alternates to the Zoning Commission for one-year terms expiring December 2025. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
The trustees all agreed to continue paying members of the Zoning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals a mileage/meeting allowance of $50 per meeting.
The Catawba Island Township Zoning Land Use Plan remains in full force and effect through March 24, 2026.
Matt Montowski made a motion to reappoint Jack Madison, Brad Schwan, Brian Washburn, Vicki Wheatley and David Howell to the Parks Board for a one-year term through 2025. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Trustees agreed to keep the current zoning fees, cemetery fees and community hall rental fees the same for 2025.
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve a 4% wage increase for all employees (excluding probationary employees). This will include maintenance, police, administrative, zoning and cemetery employees. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Trustees agreed the Casual Labor wage rate of $20/hour will remain the same.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve a 4% wage increase for Fire Chief Kevin Gibbons. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to provide health care coverage for all eligible township employees and elected officials in 2025. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Trustees agreed to keep the current police uniform annual allowance at $650 for full-time officers and $250 for part-time officers.
Trustees agreed to follow the IRS mileage reimbursement rate for 2025.
Fiscal Officer Shelly Garcia requested a motion to approve temporary appropriations in the amount of $2,577,935.53 for the first quarter of 2025 for purposes of paying payroll and any necessary expenditures prior to the permanent appropriations being approved.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve temporary appropriations as requested. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Diane Belden seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 10:12 a.m.
The next meeting will be Tuesday January 14, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Willaim Rofkar, Chairman Shelly Garcia, Fiscal Officer