Windham Twp – Windham Township Trustees carried out business as usual at their most recent trustee meeting. They had the room set up to accommodate the new regulations of social distancing. Each trustee and fiscal officer were at least six feet apart per governor’s regulation for conducting government meetings. To stay in compliance with the Sunshine Laws, they had room for guest chairs, that were set at least six feet. Besides the trustees and fiscal officer, those in attendance were Zoning Inspector Joe Pinti and Villager Reporter Denise Bly.
There weren’t any guests who wished to speak, so they moved along to two discussions. One was on how the moving of records from the former fiscal officer, Jayme Neikirk’s home office to the new fiscal officer Casey Timmons’ office went and the need to pass a resolution on setting meeting day and times. The move was done in a timely fashion and it went smoothly, because Neikirk had everything organized for the move. The trustees voted on a resolution that set meeting day on the first Thursday of each month at 6pm in the town hall.
In roads, Brian Miller reported that they had been doing ditching on Colton Road, and Horn Road. The guys have been trying to avoid riding together in order to keep the standards in the work place of six feet apart. As soon as it dries out, all attention will be on getting the cemetery cleaned-up and ready to go for Memorial Day. The trustees will put their bid in for salt for next year. They will take 75 tons of salt like usual. They have to estimate how much they will need and take at least that much for the 2020-2021 season.
Brian Miller was able to find a used portable steel platform ladder to use to change light bulbs on the green. The trustees bought it off him for his cost of $100.00. This will save the township a lot of money from having to rent a bucket truck to do the job or hiring someone to do it.
In zoning, Joe Pinti reported that he wrote zero permits for the month of March. Pinti contacted the family that has the temporary mobile home on their property while they rebuild after a fire. The zoning code allows it to be there two years or removed within 30 days of the construction being completed and the dwelling is habitable. The issue is they are not rebuilding, they are selling it. The homeowner did say if they can’t sell it, they will rebuild. This brought up the discussion, that there is nothing in the zoning code that regulates if they decide not to rebuild, what to do about the mobile home there. The temporary above ground plumbing is an eye sore. Also, single wide mobile homes are not permitted in the township.
Due to the coronavirus, the zoning variance meeting was cancelled and right now it remains unscheduled. The trustees announced that the spring clean-up is cancelled and hope to have it later in the year.
The property next to the trailer park that was in the land bank removal program and was not torn down due to the funding ran out. They will try for a Community Block Development Grant (CBDG) to get it torn down, Pinti will look into it. A question was addressed on the property that was torn down last year and controlled by NDS. Neighbors are concerned about water drainage there. Pinti will contact NDS, who is responsible for maintaining the property.
In cemetery news, Miller found fencing that will work for filling in the areas that are bad. Gano reported that he will start working on the back section as soon as it dries out. Other than a few burials, things are good at the cemetery.
In fire news, truck 2812 is blowing white smoke and sitting over at Kepich. Gano working on an alternative plan as the truck is needed and Kepich is closed. Gano said scheduling is going well. He did comment that many of the guys work for other entities as their full-time job are not avaailable. Their employers don’t want them working this job as it might expose them to the virus leaving their full-time job shorthanded. The ability to get personal protective equipment PPE is difficult and a bit overwhelming, especially on the budget. Timmons is working on a budget for staffing more when we hit the peak for Coronavirus in the United States.
New business, the guys will bleach and power wash the moss off the townhall. Due to the coronavirus, no visitors will be allowed at the garages. Please call 330 442-3255 and leave a message for the trustees there. Any other information or questions, one will need go to the web site www.windhamtownship.org and contact one of the trustees directly.
There being no other business the meeting was adjourned.
