Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2026
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Diane Belden on Tuesday, July 14th at 9:00 a.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, Scott Hines, Paula Saver, John Imke, Cindy Gunderson, Jack Madison, Jim Stouffer, Kim Mulholland, Darlene Roder, Frank Carchedi, Flint Heidlebaugh, Roland Roder, Greg Strayer, Julie Mallett, Linda Fox, Linda Short, Judy Thompson, Jean Hartline, Randy Reidmaier, and Sue Piacentino.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Chris Cellier made a motion to approve the June 23, 2026, Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented. Quintin Smith 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 $176,803.13. This includes payment of $12, 255 to Atlantic Emergency Services for new fire hoses, $7,950.00 to The Kreimes Co. for asphalt sealing and $42,187.50 to the City of Port Clinton for quarterly EMS services. Chris Cellier seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
A donation was received for the Police Department from Marty Scott and Teri DeRose. They sent a letter thanking the department for all that they do.
Permit #26-114 was received from Ottawa Co. Engineer’s Office for work being done on E. Colony Club Dr. by Frontier.
A letter received by James Garber from Ottawa Co. ARES requesting the trustees grant permission to place a Meshcore Repeater at the water tower on Catawba. They included a photo to show what this would look like. It is a very small panel and antennae that would be place at the top. The trustees had a brief discussion and advised that they don’t own the water tower, but they do not have any objections as long as they get approval by the actual owners.
Trustee Smith provided a letter/contract regarding Grant Writing and Project Implementation Assistance. This is from Conservation Realty Group LLC dba Venture in Conservation and is a proposal to allow the township to hire Neal Hess through Venture in Conservation to assist the township with various services to help obtain and manage grants to potentially purchase and restore the Bolte property. The price for this work will be billed at $65/hour and not to exceed $3,500 without prior written approval. Quintin Smith gave an overview of what this is for and explained that this was in regards to the potential purchase of the Bolte property. Discussion took place and all trustees agreed that this would be a good option for the township.
Quintin Smith made a motion to enter in to a contract with Neal Hess and Conservation Realty Group LLC dba Venture in Conservation to begin the grant process not to exceed $3,500. Chris Cellier seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Fiscal
Fiscal Officer Shelly Garcia provided the June 2026 financial reports and bank reconciliations. There were no questions or concerns.
A notice from the Auditor of State was received stating an Independent Public Accountant firm will be contracted to perform the audits for Catawba Island Township for the next biennial fiscal period, unless the township requests to continue with the firm they currently are in contract with (Charles E. Harris & Associates). The fiscal officer advised the trustees that she would like to continue with the same firm. All trustees agreed to participate in a contract extension with Charles E. Harris & Associates. The fiscal officer will advise the AOS of this decision.
At this time, Trustee Belden introduced Ottawa County Auditor Jennifer Widmer. She was invited by the trustees to come and speak to the audience regarding property taxes.
Jennifer gave a very detailed presentation regarding changes the legislature made this past year and gave an explanation of what HB186 did and what it meant for Catawba Island Township. She spoke about the limited growth of the 20-Mil Floor, Owner Occupancy Credits, and Limiting Inside Millage.
She also spoke about the exemptions the school systems in Ottawa County were given and the effect it had on property owners. She stated that all schools saw about a 4-Mil, unvoted increase for their schools. She said that the county treasurer and herself went and spoke to all school boards and asked if they could pause this and not collect all at the same time. For Port Clinton City Schools, it came to about a $5 million unbudgeted increase. She stated all schools felt they did not think they could pause this, and they all saw the increase. She then went to the state and asked for a cap as to not let this unvoted increase effect the property owners. She then went on to speak about what the state decided to do, and the effects this will have on some property owners.
There was much discussion with questions and answers between Jennifer and audience members. A decision was made by the trustees to invite members from the PC City School Board to come and speak as there were many questions by the audience that they could address. Per trustee Belden, she will have a school board member come to the next meeting on July 28, 2026.
The trustees thanked Jennifer Widmer for taking time to address issues and questions that many Catawba Island residents had.
Maintenance
Kevin Johnson provided three estimates for compost grinding. Re-Source Recycling was $23,000, Lake Erie Tree Service was $23,000 and Barnes was $24,900. Per Kevin, we have used Lake Erie Tree Service in the past and have been satisfied with their work.
Chris Cellier made a motion to approve the quote from Lake Erie Tree Service for brush pile and compost grinding for $23,000. Quintin Smith seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion approved.
Kevin also gave an estimate from Lake Erie Tree Service for tree & stump removal on township property located at 419 N. Grove.
Quintin Smith made a motion to approve the estimate from Lake Erie Tree Service in the amount of $2,275 for tree and stump removal at 419 N. Grove. Chris Cellier seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Quote received by Seacom LLC to provided the maintenance department with a multifunction, network capable, color laser printer/scanner/copier and also a smart TV and mount. This is needed equipment for the department as Kevin has been appointed by the trustees to be the contact for the Ottawa County Engineers Office to take care of permits they issue. He needs a color printer to be able to print out these permits and stated the department uses the TV for weather updates and other uses that are needed to perform the scope of his work.
Trustee Cellier asked if there was anything wrong with the current TV that he was using. Kevin stated that he is using a TV they pulled out of the dump pile. Quintin stated that he would like to make a motion, to approve the copier/printer, without the TV as we may be able to get one donated.
The Fiscal Officer stated that she would need a new estimate as the cost may not be the same if the TV was included in a package deal. The estimate was for a total of $2,156 and $420 of that was for the TV. She also advised that getting another estimate will further delay this and the county has already started sending the permits to the designees.
Quintin Smith made a motion to approve the quote from Seacom in the amount of $2,156 as presented. Diane Belden seconded the motion. Quintin and Diane voted aye. Chris Cellier opposed. Motion carried.
Kevin gave an update on the tennis courts. The Kriemes Co. has laid the black top and it has to sit for 30 days before they can put the color and lines on. The fence will be put back up when complete. Also, the trustees agreed to go with the green color for the courts.
Kevin also reported that they are still on track for the Basin project but weather has been holding them up a bit.
FIRE
Quintin Smith gave the Fire/EMS 2nd Quarter run totals. There were a total of 99 runs with an average response time of 9 minutes and 59 seconds. Diane stated that her records show a total of 112 runs. She also stated that there were 15 runs with a response time under 8 minutes.
Diane also gave the June Fire/EMS runs. There was a total of 21 runs, 10 Fire and 11 EMS.
Police
Chief Gangway presented a quote to the trustees for a new 2025 Ford Interceptor cruiser. This would be to replace the 2018 cruiser that is the oldest in the fleet. He also gave a quote from Motorola for the video equipment and accessories needed to outfit the new cruiser which included a 5-year software service. A discussion took place between the trustees and they agreed to replace the 2018 cruiser.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve the quote from Statewide Ford for a new 2025 Ford Interceptor as presented in the amount of $62,317.00 and the quote from Motorola for the camera system as presented in the amount of $11,199.00. Quintin Smith seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Chief Gangway stated that the cameras for the compost area have been installed and they will be up and ready soon.
Park
Jack Madison stated that they met with Black Swamp for the yearly inspection/walk through.
He also stated that they will be having a ribbon cutting for the new Trailhead Park, July 23-25.
New Business
Quintin Smith continues to look into the request from Brian Barrett who is the COO from EchoTech Resources regarding their request to place a communications tower on township owned property. He stated he asked them to look at an alternate location for the tower, and also gave them additional questions that needed answered. Once he hears back, he will advise the trustees.
Quintin Smith stated that he would like to look into a resort tax (tourist tax) to put on restaurants, Miller Ferry and other service industries. He stated Kelley’s Island and Put in Bay both have these in place. He said the ORC allows townships to levy a 1% (up to 2%) sales tax and it is based on census numbers. He will continue to get information and report back to the trustees once received.
Chris Cellier stated he has the final draft of the wording for the compost facility sign, and has run it by the prosecutor’s office. He will give this information to Kevin to have the sign made up and placed at the facility.
Chris said that zoning inspector Jean Hartline has been working on a presentation to walk the public through the review and update of the land us plan. She will be presenting this information at the next trustee meeting on July 28, 2026.
Chris thanked everyone who showed up to the Chicken BBQ that was held this past weekend. He also thanked everyone for their generosity and those who volunteered their time to make this such a success.
Diane Belden said on the agenda for the next meeting they have three big speakers planned (School Board Members, PC Fire Chief Gutman, and a presentation by zoning inspector Jean Hartline). She asked if they think maybe moving one speaker to another day would be better due to time issues since it was a night meeting? The consensus was to leave the three on the agenda but maybe move the time of the meeting up and limit each to a certain time limit. Diane stated that she will advise once it is decided, and also give the proper notifications of any time/location changes.
Diane Belden stated that her and Kevin met at the cemetery with the 250th Committee regarding the celebration that is to take place on August 19th.
Diane stated that Catawba Island Township will be hosting the Ottawa County Township quarterly meeting in October. Each township hosts this meeting once every four years. It is customary that speakers and other elected officials attend and a dinner served. In previous years the township has used a room at the Catawba Island Club for this event. Diane stated that she has looked into other facilities and even using the Community Hall and having a catering service bring in food. It was decided to continue using the CIC for this meeting as it is once every four years, they do a wonderful job setting up and taking care of everything, and the size of their facility is perfect for this event. Final numbers for the cost of the event won’t be available until a few weeks before when we get the RSVP’s back to see how many people will be in attendance.
Quintin Smith made a motion to use the Catawba Island Club for the township quarterly meeting to be held in October. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Jim Stouffer thanked the Fire & Police departments for a job well done during the fireworks presentation last week. He stated the number one goal is safety and they could not have done it without them.
John Imke addressed the trustees and stated that he is working on field flooding issues at John Braun Park. He stated they are looking at plans for drainage and would like the township to work together with them on this issue. Quintin stated that with the projects the trustees are looking at, this would potentially help with that issue.
Quintin Smith made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Chris Cellier seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 11:54 a.m.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 6:00 p.m, unless otherwise advertised.
___________________________ _____________________________
Diane Belden, Chairman Shelly Garcia, Fiscal Officer