Paving done, crack sealing next for Lawrence Township
Road Supervisor Perry Myers reported to the Lawrence Township Board of Trustees at its Sept. 26 meeting that all paving projects are finished for the year. Myers said paving was recently completed on Fisher and Gibler roads and Indian Hill Drive, and striping of the road and parking spaces has been completed on Gibler Road.
Trustees approved a request by Myers to purchase crack seal in the amount of $5,400, which will allow road crews to patch a number of township roads.
Trustee Don Ackerman thanked Myers and the road crews for clearing brush that was obstructing driver visibility on County Road 99 near Fisher Road. Ackerman said it was not the township’s responsibility because it is a county road, so he was appreciative trustee Matt Ritterbeck and Myers got the job done.
Bolivar Fire Chief Shawn Lynch said the new SSB Community Bank on Wilkshire Boulevard is scheduled to open Oct. 15. He also reported good results with the burning mulch pile on French Hill Road, saying the fire appears to be out.
Trustee Mike Haueter asked Lynch if the new Dollar General would have to request a fire inspection before the occupancy permit is issued. Lynch said it would and said he would contact trustees once the request was made.
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the store is not permitted to open until a turn lane is added in front of the store’s location on state Route 212. However, township residents have been anxiously watching and asking questions as the store looks close to opening and no lane has yet been added.
Property given OK by county
Administrative assistant Martina Mann reported having spoken with Alex Pearsall at the Tuscarawas County Health Department about potentially hazardous materials on a Welton Road property. According to Mann, Pearsall, an environmental specialist for the health department, said he was initially concerned about a substantial amount of waste on the property and was concerned about chemicals possibly leeching into the ground near county wells.
However, after inspecting the property, Pearsall reported all vehicles were secure and not leaking, and he has determined there is no threat to the groundwater based on the materials present. Pearsall also said he provided the property owner with a map indicating the location of county water wells, and the owner is working to remediate the situation. The health department plans to work with the owner until the property is completely clean.
Mann also reported the look of the township website has been updated, but most navigational tools and content remain the same.
Trustees approved spending up to $250 for a new vacuum cleaner for Township Hall upon Mann’s request.
A couple who lives on Olde Orchard Drive Northeast renewed their complaints about a detention pond at the Old Orchard Development across the road. They say it is causing stormwater issues on their property.
Ackerman said the situation was discussed at Regional Planning Commission, where an attorney said the original specifications were designed for the construction phase of the project, but the pond has now been altered, and any further issues would have to be a civil matter between the parties involved.
Ackerman said trustees will champion the push to get it repaired if the remedy the developer is instituting does not work. Ritterbeck said the township’s attorney is drafting a letter of support that will be sent to the developer and property owners.
Trustees agreed to hold a second work session on Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. prior to the regular meeting to discuss potentially hiring a third full-time road crew worker.
The Lawrence Township Board of Trustees meets the second and last Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Charles E. Lundenberger Hall, 10867 Industrial Parkway NW, Bolivar. All meetings are open to the public.