Nelson Twp. – Township officials present at the second Nelson Township trustee meeting of June were Fiscal Officer John David Finney; Trustees Kevin Cihan, Anne Mae VanDerHoeven, and Joe Leonard. The meeting was called to order by Leonard at 7:00pm.
The trustees were presented with meeting minutes from the previous meeting held on June 6, which were approved with minor spelling corrections. Fiscal officer Finney provided the trustees with documentation for bills and wages totaling $16,166.75 which were paid as presented. The trustees announced that they would convene at Pixley Park on June 23rd to sign other bills that came in too late to be processed before the meeting. Finney also reviewed the township budget, reporting that the total funds stand at $316,863.70, about $75,000 of which is in the general fund. The trustees were also informed that the OTARMA “membership anniversary acknowledgement” (renewal letter) arrived. Finney is able to sign it as the fiscal officer, which the trustees authorized him to do.
Following the general housekeeping, the annual appropriation issue from a prior meeting was discussed. As a quick refresher, the issue was caused by a clerical error in which a carryover balance was added to the road and bridge fund twice. Cihan suggested a reduction from Fund 2031-330-420-0000 (Operating Supplies), reducing the balance from $158,000 to $80,000. The other trustees agreed and a motion was passed authorizing a rebalancing of the appropriations/funds.
Finney informed the trustees that the Board of Elections notified the township that the Community House would not be needed for August special elections; however ,the building will be in use for the general election in November. A discussion was had about the expired oil and gas lease on Pixley Park. The trustees have not received communication that the lease has expired. County prosecutor Chris Meduri suggested looking up whether it has been removed at the county recorder’s office. Vanderhoeven asked Finney if Meduri could look up the record for the trustees. The lease was good for 5 years with a 1 year extension and was entered into on October 13, 2010. It was a lease agreement for oil, gas, and methane to Western Reserve; however, they never acted on the lease, so the “minerals” are still intact.
Community House caretaker Sandy Huzl’s report was discussed. Someone fixed the ceiling leak in the men’s room after the hard rain, however VanDerHoeven asked that the road crew look at the roof to see if it needs to be tarred, or if flashing is missing.
Cihan has reviewed the road crew’s two week plan for cold patch and dig out areas. These areas include the south end of Hopkins, Knowlton, Prentiss (between Pritchard and Ely roads), and Reynolds Road. Vanek estimates a cost of roughly $20,000 for all the areas which would leave about $60K in the operating supplies fund. Vanek also specified a second set of areas at $20K, which would leave operating fund at 40K. At the moment, Cihan is looking just to fund the work on the areas outlined in the first plan, skipping the secondary projects for now. Cihan also mentioned that the county came out and fixed Norton Road and Center Road. The trustees also received a second quote for LED lighting, this one from Scotchman Electric. Once a third quote is received they will make a decision, write up the project and submit to NOPEC for grant approval. The trustees will wait to see funds from grant are secured before hiring for the project.
VanDerHoeven asked Finney if money from recycling has come in. She has also been playing phone tag with Alex Bolton about cameras for the dumpster area. VanDerHoeven is wondering if there is a fee or if a camera would be available through PCSWD’s grant money.
Leonard informed the other trustees that a candidate for commissioner is coming to the next meeting. He has also received the go ahead for a culvert in the ditch around the circle.
Leonard also shared that a 24 hour race was coming up at the race track (car races). The owners of the track have booked 10 rooms at a hotel for neighboring property owners if the noise ends up being too much — living up to their promise to be a good neighbor in the community.
The meeting was adjourned shortly after.
