Lawrence Township to place fire and EMS levy on ballot
The Lawrence Township Board of Trustees voted 2-1 to place a 3-mil levy on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The Lawrence Township Board of Trustees voted 2-1 to place a 3-mil levy on the Nov. 3 ballot. If passed, the levy would generate $448,381 for fire protection and EMS to be provided by the Bolivar Fire Department. The approval came Thursday, July 30 during the regular trustees meeting with Matt Ritterbeck being the lone dissenting vote.
In other business the trustees voted to decline purchasing 10 acres of land currently owned by the Bolivar Fire Department. The fire department has decided not to use the land to build a centralized fire station and is asking $194,000 for it.
Ritterbeck said the land along Wilkshire Boulevard would be a great place for a dog park, expansion of the Towpath Trail or other green space and that it could qualify for a grant from the Clean Ohio Fund. However, he said the earliest any possible funding would come through would be in spring 2021 and there is no way to know whether the township would receive a grant.
“We would basically have to purchase the land without knowing for sure if funding is going to come through,” Ritterbeck said. “There are no guarantees because other communities are applying for the same money.”
Mike Haueter told Bolivar Fire Chief Shawn Lynch to let the fire department know that if the land does not sell, the township may be interested in purchasing it at a future date.
That evening the board heard from Lynch about a house fire on Glenpark Drive in Wilkshire Hills on July 28. The fire was electrical in nature and caused mostly smoke and water damage. Lynch also told trustees the department’s ladder truck did not pass its five-year exam and is in for repairs to cracked welds on the frame.
The trustees also heard from assistant county prosecutor Mike Ernest, who is running for Common Pleas Court judge. He is running to replace Judge Edward O’Farrell, who will retire at the end of the year. According to Ohio law, a person cannot run for judge after the age of 70, and Ernest said O’Farrell is currently 71.
Zoning issues
Zoning inspector Ron Weekley reported on several zoning issues. He said there will be a board of zoning appeals hearing on Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. regarding an illegal fence placement on French Hill Road in Southern Lawrence Township.
Weekley said he and deputy Heath spoke with individuals who were soliciting bug spray and other seasonal items near the Commons Pool. They told the individuals they needed to get a permit from the township before being allowed to sell anything.
Weekley reported he received a complaint about mowing at the corner of Pond View and North Laurens. He said he sent the resident zoning information. Road Superintendent Chuck McNutt said the township is responsible for mowing the grass 15 feet back from the road, and it has recently been mowed. The rest of the lot is on private property.
Weekley said a cease and desist letter was sent to a resident on Hess Mill Road in Wilkshire Hills for holding too many garage sales. “They seem to be complying because I haven’t seen them holding any sales lately,” he said.
Watch out, speeders
McNutt said he looked into getting a movable flashing speed limit sign to slow down drivers on certain township roads where speeding has become an issue. He said a sign can be borrowed from the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Cambridge Patrol Post.
McNutt also reported on road work taking place throughout the township. He said crack sealing on several roads is nearly complete. The contractor had to stop and prepare the school parking lots but is resuming work on the following roads: Indian Hill, Pondview, Dogwood, Woodlawn, Buehler (north end) and Bimeler (south end). Chip and seal work began Aug. 5.
Asphalt work is tentatively scheduled to begin the first part of September. McNutt said the state is funding work on North Orchard from state Route 212 to Welton Road with the county funding the section from Welton Road to Dover-Zoar Road. Asphalt paving also will be done on Greenbrier Drive, Greenbrier Square, Fair Oaks, and portions of Hollingsworth Avenue and Bimeler Street.
McNutt also reported the stripes for handicap parking have been painted, as have the fuel tanks and the concrete bollard around the township building.
Ritterbeck said he received a complaint from a resident at 9794 Bimeler regarding a catch basin on the property. “It’s a township catch basin where a resident prior to the current landowner put in their own pipes,” Ritterbeck said.
McNutt said a crew would repair it in the next few days by putting cement block and an extra pipe in.
Ritterbeck also said Sheriff Orvis Campbell investigated reports of a homeless man living near River Community Park. He said Campbell spent two days getting the man settled back in Coventry in Summit County. Don Ackerman thanked Campbell for his personal attention in getting the matter straightened out.
Also in River Community Park, litter deputy Anderson recently conducted a clean-up of the basketball courts, the river access area and the trail.
Ann Ackerman said she attended a webinar about government funding available for COVID-related expenses. She said the Bolivar Fire Department has had an expense she believes will qualify for reimbursement under the CARES Act. Ackerman also said she is assembling a list for the trustees of the type of expenses that qualify for reimbursement.
The next meeting will be Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at Charles E. Lundenberger Hall, 10867 Industrial Parkway NW in Bolivar.