Lawrence Township trustees address complaints from residents
At its Oct. 14 meeting, the Lawrence Township Board of Trustees heard several complaints from area residents regarding overgrown grass and parked cars on neighboring properties.
At its Oct. 14 meeting, the Lawrence Township Board of Trustees heard several complaints from area residents regarding overgrown grass and parked cars on neighboring properties.
A neighbor reported the lawn at a residence on Melrose Circle is about 24 inches. Zoning Inspector Ron Weekley said he would talk to the owner and ask them to remedy the situation before the next trustees meeting. If the owners do not respond, a nuisance resolution will need to be created and passed at the next meeting to allow the township to take action.
A complaint was also issued about numerous cars with expired tags being parked at another property. Weekley stated he had already addressed the issue by contacting the county prosecutor who sent a letter of notice to the homeowner.
In a similar matter, Matt Ritterbeck reported receiving an email from a Holly Heights resident regarding how often vacant lots are to be mowed and by whom. Weekley will look into the issue.
Trustees heard a request from the Tusky Valley Baseball/Softball Association to park a utility trailer on township property and a report from a Logan Drive resident regarding cracked sealing.
In other business
Trustees discussed the need for a resolution that would allow the township to purchase a $10,000 surety bond and to charge utility companies a fee when they run lines to a new development. The bond is intended to cover the cost to the township to repair roads should they be damaged by the utility company.
Ritterbeck said he heard from Jordan Barker who recently bought acreage on Zutavern Church Road and is removing trees on the property. Barker believes one of the trees may be on the township right of way. He is willing to remove the tree if given permission. Trustees agreed to have Weekley and Road Supervisor Chuck McNutt to work out the details and remove the tree.
Ann Ackerman, fiscal officer, reported receiving four responses from the 15 residents of Cherry Hill who were sent letters to determine interest in a feasibility study for providing sewer service to Michael Lane after a resident’s septic system failed. According to Ackerman, the respondents had questions about the cost of the study and of connecting to county sewer but did not seem very interested in doing so.
Ackerman also presented an updated version of the funds distribution agreement for the fire and EMS tax levy. Trustees voted to accept the updated agreement. The villages of Bolivar and Zoar will also need to accept the agreement in order for it to take effect.
Administrative assistant Martina Mann said she applied for the Host Community Cleanup and Yard Waste Host Site Block Grant from Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District. The grant is used to help cover the cost of maintaining the township’s compost site.
The next meeting is Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Charles E. Lundenberger Hall, 10867 Industrial Parkway NW in Bolivar.