Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
March 28, 2023
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Matt Montowski on Tuesday, March 28, at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room
of the administration building.
In attendance were: Diane Belden, William Rofkar, Matt Montowski, Karen Shaw,
John Gangway, Kevin Johnson, Dan Barlow, Jack Madison, Bryan Baugh, John Keefe, Scott Hines, Adrienne Hines, William Baker, Dorothy Baker, Michael Hablitzel, and Randy Riedmaier.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve the March 14, 2023 Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes and the March 21, 2023 Public Hearing 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 the last payroll, in the amount of $204,925.70. The total includes a payment of $128,320 to Focht Construction Company for continued work on the West Harbor Public Boat Launch Improvement Project. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
A letter from township Administrative Assistant Patty Wildman giving notice of her retirement date of June 30, 2023.
A letter from Pamela Schraidt regarding the proposed bike trail being pursued by the Parks Board of Ottawa County and reasons why she is against the idea of an additional bike trail in the township.
A letter from Doyle Fausey requesting graves 5, 6, 7, & 8 in lot 2 of Main Section 61, originally purchased by his in-laws Paul and Marie Dumminger, be sold back to the township.
A Resolution from American Legion Post #113 of Port Clinton requesting a donation for decorating graves, conducting Memorial Services, and properly observing Memorial Day within the township.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve a donation in the amount of $200 to American Legion Post #113 of Port Clinton for observing Memorial Day at Catawba Island Cemetery. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
An email from Craig Miller of the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office regarding bids for resurfacing various township roads and noting due to past performance issues by the lowest bidder, they will proceed with recommending the awarding of contracts to Gerken Paving, the second lowest bidder.
The 2022 Annual Report from the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office.
A copy of a letter from the Ottawa Regional Planning Commission to Carl Feick regarding the Marsh’s Crossing PUD – Preliminary Plat and several items which will need to be addressed.
An invitation to the Shores and Islands Ohio Annual Meeting to be held April 18 in Lakeside.
Zoning
Michael Prosser, representing the Architectural Review Committee for Pat O’Sullivan, presented a minor deviation to the original Catawba Bay PUD proposal to combine lots 97 and 98 into one tax parcel. He said the plan drawing is also a minor deviation from the original plan that was approved.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve the combination of lots 97 and 98 in Catawba Bay to make one residential lot. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Maintenance
Maintenance Supervisor Kevin Johnson discussed the salt contract for 2023-2024 winter season.
William Rofkar made a motion to pass a Resolution to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Road Salt Contracts Awarded in 2023 for the 2023-2024 winter season and request 150 tons of salt. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Kevin Johnson said maintenance personnel will pick up leaves a couple more times and begin brush pick up April 3 and continue to pick up brush the first week of each month through October.
Kevin Johnson said personnel replaced approximately five bundles of shingles on the back of the maintenance building following recent high winds.
Kevin Johnson said maintenance personnel converted the restroom flush valves at Heigel Park to automatic touchless.
Police
Police Chief John Gangway said Devin Pollock registered to take a Death Investigation class through the Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Academy from May 15 through May 19 at the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office. John Gangway asked Trustees to consider reimbursing Devin Pollock $650 for the course as she has taken other training on her own but he feels this class is relevant.
Trustees agreed to reimburse Devin Pollock $650 for the course and additional travel expenses.
John Gangway said he was asked to sign a Liquor Permit for the Fullbackers organization renting the Community Hall on May 6.
Matt Montowski said he spoke to the township’s Ohio Plan Risk Management representative and the Fullbackers are to include the Township on their certificate of insurance.
Fire
A reciprocating air compressor and lubricant was purchased for the fire department from Tractor Supply for $1,559.98 as an urgent matter of necessity requested by Fire Chief Gibbons.
New Business
Diane Belden said she attended the annual Health Department meeting and reported the highlight was that COVID numbers and hospitalizations are down. She also presented the Board with the Ottawa County Health Department 2022 Annual Report.
Matt Montowski said he received an email from Kelly Frey, Ottawa County Sanitary Engineer, requesting a letter of support regarding their effort to secure STAG grant funding for two projects that have been combined into one for funding purposes. One project is the installation of a low pressure sewer on Christy Chapel Road connecting Gill Road and Sand Road sanitary sewers. The other project is the installation of a sludge press at the wastewater treatment plant on West Catawba Road eliminating the need for an outside contractor as used now.
Matt Montowski said a letter of support was submitted to the Board of Ottawa County Commissioners as requested.
Old Business
Scott Hines said he feels the current bike path is dangerous especially with vehicles with wide mirrors and it is not safe with the heavy traffic.
William Rofkar said statistically it is safe.
Adrienne Hines said she feels there are fewer people who utilize the bike path because it is unsafe. She said people also complain about trash and stealing fruit from the trees and possible poor behavior on bike paths but that is also not statistically true. Adrienne Hines said we can see the translation with the safety of bike paths and how they raise the values of properties. She said she has lived here for over 20 years and would like to have a safe fun place to live and as a homeowner she disagrees with the woman who wrote the letter that was read into correspondence.
Michael Hablitzel agreed he will not ride his bike on the bike path next to cars driving 50 mph.
Dorothy Baker asked if it is possible to contact the state and ask them to put a rumble strip along the white line next to the bike path to help make drivers more aware and possibly less distracted.
Matt Montowski said he is not opposed to that request and they could look into the matter.
Diane Belden said you cannot take your kids on tricycles or in a stroller on the Route 53 bike path.
Jack Madison said the Park District of Ottawa County hopes to put out four different ideas for phase one of the proposed bike trail in April that may help to facilitate more conversation.
Dan Barlow asked about the Veterans area improvement project.
Matt Montowski said he spoke with Todd Bickley about the bid specifications for the Veterans area and proposed memorial wall in the cemetery but they are not quite ready but they are in the process.
A lengthy conversation took place regarding the two projects being bid together.
Diane Belden expressed continued disappointment in holding up the Veterans area improvement project in order to also bid the memorial wall project at the same time. She said further conversation is needed regarding the demand, design, and placement of the memorial wall.
William Rofkar said he is not sure if he is on board with the memorial wall project but he cannot make his decision until he knows how much it is going to cost, but he is in favor of the Veterans area improvements and is confident that project will be completed this year.
Diane Belden said she would like the memorial wall to be less than 25 foot in length and in the meantime we are delaying the Veterans area improvements.
Matt Montowski said he does not see it that way at all.
Diane Belden made a motion to adjourn the meeting. William Rofkar seconded the motion.
All voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Matt Montowski, Chairman Karen Shaw, Fiscal Officer