Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
April 11, 2023
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Matt Montowski on Tuesday, April 11, at 9:00 a.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, Marty Auxter, Jack Madison, William Baker,
Dorothy Baker, and John Keefe.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve the March 28, 2023 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 the last payroll, in the amount of $85,599.09. The total includes a payment of $42,187.50 to the City of Port Clinton for the first quarter Emergency Medical Services and a payment of $6,900 to Bill’s Implement for the mower lease program. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
A letter from John Keefe asking Trustees to support the development of a plan to improve the existing bikeway on Route 53 as he is against efforts by the Park District of Ottawa County to implement a multi-use trailway through the center of the island.
A request from Vicki Wheatley to approve a news article to be submitted to The Beacon announcing the Catawba Island Township Parks Board Speaker Series for spring and summer.
Trustees agreed Vicki Wheatley can submit the Parks Board Speaker Series news release as written.
An email from the National Opioid Settlement Implementation Administrator regarding the new national opioids settlements: Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart and the deadline to participate.
William Rofkar said the Ottawa County Prosecutor has reviewed the legal documents.
Matt Montowski made a motion to participate in the National Opioid Settlement and authorized the Fiscal Officer to sign and submit the documents on behalf of the township. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Fiscal
Fiscal Officer Karen Shaw presented the March 2023 financial reports and bank reconciliation. There were no questions or concerns.
Zoning
Matt Montowski said there were eleven zoning permits issued in March and three variances for a total of $1,828.96 collected in fees.
Maintenance
Maintenance Supervisor Kevin Johnson said personnel have been picking up brush and leaves. He said the leaf vacuum needs new tires and the transmission will need to be serviced before next fall.
Kevin Johnson said he is working on pricing for road patch material for areas that need repaired.
Kevin Johnson said that Ernie Wylie returned to work in the cemetery on April 10.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve seasonal employee Marty Auxter to work as needed in the cemetery, in addition to other maintenance related projects like clean up days, roads, and snow removal, at the casual labor rate. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Police
Police Chief John Gangway asked Trustees if they wanted police coverage for clean up days.
William Rofkar said he would like police coverage for clean up days.
John Gangway said he could not staff a request by Catawba Island Club for 24/7 coverage at the Boat Show for five days and also had to turn down a few other requests for coverage by area businesses. John Gangway said when they have the manpower available they do contract with the area businesses for coverage when requested.
Fire
Karen Shaw said Trustees previously approved a purchase for the fire department as requested by Louis Wargo for two Task Force Tips Jumbo Intake Valves at a cost of $4,535 not to exceed $4,850 with shipping from Atlantic Emergency Solutions. She said Louis Wargo has changed the order to two Akron Brass Revolution Intake Valves at a cost of only $4,375 from the same vendor.
Diane Belden said Kent Johnson from the City of Port Clinton EMS reported there were 36 calls in January, 27 calls in February, and 27 calls in March for a total of 90 EMS calls responded to in the township the first quarter of 2023.
Diane Belden said the total response numbers represent forty less EMS calls than the first quarter of 2022.
New Business
William Rofkar said he would like Trustees to move the fourth Tuesday meeting of the month to 9:00 a.m. the same time as the second Tuesday meeting of each month.
Diane Belden made a motion that Trustee meetings will be held at 9:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month beginning in May 2023. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Diane Belden presented a quote from Boundtree for two recertified Zoll Semi Auto AEDs Plus with pads, battery, and case for $2,000. The quote also included two double sided wall signs and two wall mount cabinets for an additional $288.80. She said as previously discussed one unit could be housed at the Community Hall and the other in the Administration Building.
Diane Belden made a motion to purchase two AEDs with accessories as quoted from Boundtree for a total not to exceed $2,400. AED units will be located at the Community Hall and Administration Building lobby. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Diane Belden made a motion to advertise in the newspaper April 14 and 21 for an invitation to bid for the construction of the Veterans Memorial area improvements in the cemetery and a separate bid for alternate A - memorial wall. Documents will be posted on the township website for contractors to download and sealed bids will be received by Trustees and opened on May 9, at 9:00 a.m. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
William Baker asked the Board of Trustees to form a panel and research the possibility of purchasing available wood lots, prairies, and open properties because with new development the amount of open space becomes more limited each year.
Matt Montowski said he feels Catawba Island has more green space than most townships.
Diane Belden said the township is fortunate that due to recent partnerships between the Black Swamp Conservancy and the Nehls and Smith families a few more properties in the township will not be developed.
William Rofkar said we are all on the same page and would like to see controlled growth and would look at opportunities but when some of these large parcels of property become available the township cannot afford to buy each property.
William Baker said the piece of property across from the power station is such an amazing piece of property and there are other wood lots still intact.
Matt Montowski said he likes the way William Baker is thinking on more conservancy on lands.
John Keefe asked if there is any update on the property where the motel was torn down.
Matt Montowski said it is a Planned Unit Development and they will need to get zoning permits and then they will have two years to develop the property. He said but they have a lot of work to do before getting zoning permits approved.
Diane Belden made a motion to adjourn the meeting. William Rofkar seconded the motion.
All voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 a.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Matt Montowski, Chairman Karen Shaw, Fiscal Officer