Trustees pursue options for compost service after 2025
After approving the appointment of Mike Haueter as chairman for 2025 at its Jan. 11 meeting, Haueter led the Lawrence Township Board of Trustees in a discussion about ways to continue providing residents with composting service when grant funding ends. The Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Recycling District has indicated it will discontinue providing grant money to operate the service at the end of 2025.
“Some communities have pay systems where residents pay for the composting,” Haueter said. “I think it would be ideal if we could offer that. Whether it would be popular is something we can look into, but I like the idea.”
Trustee Matt Ritterbeck said he was glad trustees were brainstorming ideas, given there is simply no longer any funding to come from the district.
“A lot of communities up north have successful pay-to-use programs with card readers,” Ritterbeck said. “The reality is just to keep paying Bull Country Compost to process 80-120 hoppers costs $12,000-$15,000 a year. We’re going to need the residents to pay for it, or we’ll have to shut it down. But at least we are exploring alternatives so we will know we exhausted every option.”
Trustees agreed to move forward with looking into a variety of potential solutions, with Ritterbeck noting the township currently has funding available to offer the service through at least part of 2026, giving the board time to propose a new program.
New truck coming
On the recommendation of Road Supervisor Perry Myers, the board voted to purchase a new pickup to replace the 14-year-old truck road crews had been using. Myers said with the addition of a third full-time road worker and the additional land the township maintains at Lawrence Township River Community Park and along the walking trail in Wilkshire Hills, the truck will be put to good use.
Fiscal Officer Ann Ackerman said she calculated the amount of time the current truck is used for transporting mowers and taking care of township land to be 43%. Therefore, she proposed taking $21,000 of the $48,000 purchase price from the township’s lodging fund, which is designated for that purpose.
Trustees agreed and approved the purchase of a 2025 Ford F350 4x4 from Parkway Ford. Ritterbeck recommended trading in the 2011 truck rather than attempting to sell it, as the rusted-out truck bed would require extensive repair.
In other matters
Trustees voted to reapply for grant funds for a generator to supply power to the township building during power outages. The board has twice applied for funds from different sources and been denied, but Ritterbeck said it would be worth applying again.
Ritterbeck reported having received three letters of endorsement he believes will help with securing grant funding.
“We have endorsement letters from Chief Lynch for the Bolivar Fire Department, Sheriff Orvis Campbell and the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections Director Gayle Garbrandt,” Ritterbeck said.
Purchasing a generator would allow elections to continue if electricity were to be interrupted and also would make the building useful as a heating or cooling station for residents during power outages.
Lawrence Township Deputy Sheriff Adam Shaw said he consulted with the county’s litter deputy regarding littering issues along Wilkshire Boulevard, saying he will look into the possibility of placing cameras along the road. Myers said the situation seems to have improved a bit.
Trustees voted to participate in the county’s asphalt bidding program again in 2025.
Monte Provost, a resident of Navarre, was directed to the Ohio Historical Connection for more information on a historical question.
The next meeting will be held Monday, Jan. 27 to allow township officials and employees to attend the Ohio Township Association’s winter conference. Otherwise, the board 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.