Special Meeting
The Chester Township Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Aug. 25 at 4 p.m. regarding pending litigation. By a unanimous vote, the board approved up to $5,000 to engage the law offices of Isaac-Wiles and participate in an intervention action involving health care cooperative OPEC-HC and their former agent, Jefferson Health Plan.
Regular Meeting
The regular meeting on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. began with an update and presentation by Metzenbaum Center Superintendent Donald Rice. Mr. Rice pointed out that over 68 percent of the funding needed to support the 800-plus persons benefiting from MC’s services is from local levy dollars. As the state continues to back away from supporting these services, the center is expecting to rely even more on local funds.
Julia Dolsen, of Shiffler Equipment, presented the initial results of the study prepared by her regarding the benefits of switching the more than 300 township lighting fixtures to LED. Trustees thanked Julia, however, no other action was taken as they continue to study the topic.
Public Comments
A resident asked several questions regarding the expiring 1978 1.5-mil road and bridge levy.
Road Department
After discussion regarding investigation by Trustee Kinney into an expected settlement with Dominion East Ohio for prior damage by the township road department to gas line, trustees voted unanimously to permit a gas main extension and installation of anodes by DEO.
Trustees unanimously voted to accept the $69,832.53 bid for replacement of a failing culvert on Cedar Road in preparation for 2018 paving. They executed the 2017-18 contract for snow plowing county roads in Chester Township. Chester will receive $47,261.99 for this commitment.
By a majority vote, trustees approved Kathleen Lindsey as a temporary worker in the road department at a rate of $15 per hour, filling the vacant assistant position until a replacement is found. Also by a majority vote, the board approved Jonathan Oswick, filling the recently vacated alternate position on the zoning board.
Police Department
Trustees tabled a motion for a new liquor license for Chesterland Floral pending input from the police chief. An after-the-fact $1,200 motion was passed for the annual MDT/LEADS information systems fee, and $18,110 was approved to WatchGuard Video for replacement of the first three of six in-car camera systems.
New Business
Trustees, by a unanimous vote, accepted the Geauga County Budget Commission’s determination of amounts and rates for the 2017 tax year, collected in 2018, and by a majority, voted not to suspend the 2018 ongoing collection of the 1978 1.5-mil road tax levy. Unless renewed, collection of the levy will stop at the end of 2018.
A proclamation thanking the volunteers who helped with the new monument, sign and flagpole was unanimously approved by the board.
Parkside Park
A motion to pay three after-the-fact individual invoices totaling $2,558.00 for electrical work performed at Parkside Park was tabled pending additional study.
Chester Recycling Park
Trustees voted to make Chester Recycling Park available to Chesterland Kiwanis for the recycling and shredding event Sept. 16 beginning at 9 am.
Submitted by W.L. Bud Kinney, Chester Township Trustee