Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
March 11, 2025
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman William Rofkar on Tuesday, March 11, 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, William Baker, Lisa Murphy, Mary Jane Porozynski, Dan Barlow, Bryan Baugh, Chris Cellier, Jack Madison, Karl Oreskovich and Nancy Oreskovich.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve the February 25, 2025, Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve and pay the bills, including payroll, in the amount of $105,857.88. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
The Ottawa County Municipal Court 2024 Annual Report has been received and will be kept in the Fiscal Officers Office if anyone wishes to review it.
The Village of Elmore Police Department sent an invitation to their 2025 Police Memorial Day Celebration being held on May 14, 2025.
American Legion Post 113 is requesting a donation from Catawba Island Township to decorate graves and conduct memorial services over the Memorial Day Holiday on May 26, 2025. The trustees asked what was donated last year. Fiscal Officer, Shelly Garcia stated she will look into this and advise the trustees at the next meeting so a determination can be made as to what they would like to donate this year.
Maintenance Supervisor Kevin Johnson, requested use of the Community Hall on March 23, 2025 and requested the fees be waived. Trustees agreed to his request.
Laura White with Ottawa County Project Noelle requested use of the Community Hall, with the fees being waived, for their Charity Rummage Sale on May 29, 30, 31 and June 1, 2025. The trustees agreed to this request.
A Notice of Public Hearing was read for a PUD for Island Pines Residential Development. It will be held on March 25, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. at the Conference Room of the Administration Building.
Louie Wargo is requesting the Fire Department be allowed to sponsor a “ride from school in a fire truck” this year again for the Immaculate Conception School’s 2025 auction. They have done it the past two years and this has been a great community relations opportunity. All trustees agreed to allow the fire department use of a fire truck for this event.
The Township Fiscal Officer received Bulletin 2025-003 from the Auditor of State regarding Cannabis Revenue. It gives the background of the approval of cannabis use and also the accounting guidelines.
Notice from the Department of Commerce Liquor Control Agency regarding the liquor permit for the Nor’Easter Club and how it has now changed hands and will be permitted in the new owner’s name. They stated that the township must notify the division if they object, want a hearing, or have no objections. Trustees agreed that they have no objections on this permit transfer, Fiscal Officer Shelly Garcia will notify them of this.
Kevin Frantz has requested to sell back his cemetery plot to the township. This was purchased in 2009 for $225. It is in Section: East 18, Lot 4, Grave 1. All trustees agreed to buy back this plot for the same amount it was sold for.
The Ohio Insurance Services Agency sent over a renewal packet regarding new prices for the township employees benefit plan. They have increased 6.9% for the full-time township employees and elected officials who received medical insurance benefits. Matt Montowski stated that the average health insurance plan increase is about 7%, but much more for public entities. Matt thinks the proposal is very good and is completely acceptable. Matt Montowski made a motion to approve the renewal with Frank Harmon and Ohio Insurance Services Agency for the presented increase of 6.9% for 2025. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Fiscal
Fiscal Officer Shelly Garcia provided the February 2025 financial reports and bank reconciliations. There were no questions or concerns.
Maintenance
Supervisor Kevin Johnson stated that the marinas and parks are open, and they have gone through the cemetery and cleaned up everything for the preparation of spring.
The windows at the community hall have all been installed and they are continuing to paint the inside of the building.
Police
Chief Gangway stated that the computers at the police department will need an upgrade in the near future. The ones they currently have are too old to support the Windows 11 program that will be coming this fall. He stated that there is a sale on laptops and he received a quote from Seacom LLC and would like to upgrade the one laptop that they have now, and then the desk top at a later date. The quote is for $1,391.00 and would include set up as well. Diane Belden made a motion to approve the quote from Seacom LLC to purchase a new laptop for the police department as presented in the amount of $1,391.00. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Chief Gangway stated that now that his department is at full staff, he may look into “extra duty” requests from the public. He stated that in the past he has had to turn down such requests from businesses and personnel in the township as their priority is to man the department first, and there were not enough officers to send out for extra duty. In the past they would charge $50/hour. However, due to various increases this would not allow the department to break even. He asked the trustees if they would like to consider an increase in this amount in the event that officers would be available for public extra duty. A brief discussion took place and it was agreed to increase the cost to $75.
Internet Services in the administration building are in need of an upgrade, as well as the phone systems. Chief Gangway is currently looking into these upgrades and will advise when more information is available and make a recommendation to the trustees at that time.
FIRE
Diane Belden gave the February 2025 run totals for the fire department. There were a total of 5 Fire Department calls (three being ice rescues), and 2 EMS calls for a total of 7 runs.
Parks
Jack Madison stated that they are going to revisit the parks grant at the next meeting.
New Business
Matt Montowski gave the February 2025 Zoning Report. There were a total of 9 permits issued and 3 variances for a total of $2,939.72 collected.
Matt Montowski stated he received a complaint regarding a tree down on Johnsons Ave. According to the auditor’s website there is no owner on record for the location of this tree. He stated the complainant was advised to contact their Homeowner’s Association.
Matt stated that he also received a complaint from Wesley Brown regarding the lighting at the power sub-station. Matt was able to get ahold of the manager of the sub-station and they will look into fixing this issue.
Matt received an email from Louise Terry regarding the Little Free Library Box that she would like to place somewhere near the township administration building that would have free books for public use. Matt asked Kevin Johnson if he thought one location may be better than another and it was mentioned to place it near the Public Library Return Box. Kevin stated that he would go take a look to see where would be best.
Matt Montowski stated that the township may want to look into new generators for the community hall and administration building. He stated the ones we have are very old (2002) and since the township is going to be a designated shelter area, that we should have better equipment. Kevin also stated that the generator at the fire department should probably be replaced as well as that one also services the maintenance department. Matt stated that the manual switches would also need to be replaced. Kevin stated that he will look into replacement generators for all three of the current ones we have.
Bill Rofkar stated that he and Kevin met with the County Engineer for the 2025 annual road review. He put together a plan and submitted to the other trustees with his notes from this meeting.
Bill stated that he is continuing to work on the Muggy Road tornado sirens. It was up and working at one point, but had radio issues again. The tech took the radio out to be fixed and they are very close to getting it up and running again.
Matt Montowski made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Diane Belden seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:54 a.m.
The next meeting will be Tuesday March 25, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. for the PUD Public Hearing and then the regular Board of Township Trustees Meeting to follow at 9:00 a.m.
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Willaim Rofkar, Chairman Shelly Garcia, Fiscal Officer