The Chester Township Board of Trustees held its regular meeting on Dec. 10. The evening began with an executive session that included Assistant Geauga County Prosecutor Bridey Matheney and Fiscal Officer Craig Richter pertaining to a legal matter.
Next was a brief presentation by ADP summarizing the services the company offers, including outsourcing payroll and managing the complex obligations associated with the Affordable Care Act. There were no decisions; more research will continue on this topic.
Steve Decatur, of the Geauga County IT Department, summarized the design, functionality and costs for providing a security camera system to the Chester Recycle Park and the township campus. The cost for the project is approximately $20,500. No decision was made on the expenditure. Trustees thank Mr. Decatur and his staff for the tremendous support they have provided to Chester on the project.
With input from the Road Super-intendent Rob Pealer, the board by majority vote approved up to $4,000 for improvements to the drive serving the Chester Recycle Park. Chester has the internal labor, equipment and materials to perform all of the work.
With the passage of the road levy renewal, discussion ensued regarding allocation of revenue ($380,000) from the general fund that was originally intended as a “transfer-in” to the Chester Road Department if the levy had not passed. As part of the 2016 budget process, the board has already allocated $320,000 from the general fund to the road department for contracted services.
For 2016, approximately $700,000 is being provided from the general fund to the road department. The board believes pavement preservation to be the first priority, so these monies will be spent on chip sealing, crack sealing and full and partial depth repairs.
Next on the agenda was a discussion of the need for a road levy for the March 2016 ballot. The board is in agreement that new monies for road resurfacing are necessary. After much robust discussion, by majority vote, a motion to put a new 1.5-mil levy on the ballot was passed.
Regular and routine expenditures including monies for salt, brine, two new radar units for the police department and monies to support ongoing Chester Fire Department union negotiations was approved.
Because there is a specific process to place a levy on the ballot, on Dec. 12, a special meeting was held to discuss and move to approve a resolution asking Geauga County Auditor Frank Gliha to certify the need and amount for the requested millage. A 1.5-mil levy will enable the township to resurface only about 1 mile of road per year. After discussion and recognizing the need for more money, by majority vote, a motion for a new 2.5-mil levy was passed. The board is in general agreement that if the new 2.5-mil levy passes in March 2016, the expiring 1.5-mil renewal levy would not be renewed.
The third phase of this process involved an emergency meeting, which occurred at 8 p.m. on Dec. 14 that formally made the motion to place the levy on the ballot. More information will be forthcoming on this very important issue.
Respectfully Submitted by
Chester Township Officials
Ken Radtke, Bud Kinney,
Mike Petruziello, Craig Richter