RES#11-_____

Nimishillen Township Board of Trustees

January 27, 2011

On Thursday, January 27, 2011, the Board of Trustees of Nimishillen Township met in regular session at 7:00 PM at the Nimishillen Township Hall located at 4422 Maplegrove NE with the following members present: Trustee President Michael L. Lynch, Trustee Vice President Allen E. Gress and Fiscal Officer Barry L. Evans. Trustee Lisa R. Shafer was absent.

Trustee Lynch called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and led the staff and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

NOTE: All reports are available at the township office located at 4915 N. Nickelplate. Copies are 10¢ per page.

INVOCATION: Trustee Lynch gave the invocation.

ABSENCES: Trustee Shafer, Fire Chief Peterson and Secretary Sharon Shaub were absent due to illness.

ROAD DEPARTMENT: (Jack Magee, Hwy. Superintendent)

Road Report: TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE WRITTEN ROAD REPORT FOR JANUARY 27, 2011 SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LYNCH. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-030

Roll call voting: Mr. Gress-YES; Mr. Lynch-YES

ROAD LEVY:

Discussion was held as to whether or not to place the road levy on the May ballot. It was turned down last election. The road department is functioning on a one-mill levy passed in 2004, which was renewed in 2005. At today’s costs, those funds are not adequate to maintain roads and equipment. Superintendent Jack Magee said if the levy is not passed, it will be felt in 2011 and 2012 in areas such as snow removal, salting roads and the 68 miles of township roads will not be maintained like they should be. The roads are falling apart now. On a $100,000 home, the average cost to a homeowner would be $30.00 more a year. After discussion, the Board agreed to place a road levy on the May 3^rd ballot.

TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED TO DECLARE IT NECESSARY TO SUBMIT THE QUESTION OF LEVYING AN ADDITIONAL TAX IN EXCESS OF THE TEN-MILL LIMIT FOR PURPOSES SET FORTH IN AND PURSUANT TO SECTION 5705.19 (G) OF THE O.R.C. SECONDED BY TRUSTEE GRESS. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-031

Roll call voting: Mr. Lynch – YES; Mr. Gress – YES

TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED TO DETERMINE TO PROCEED THE SUBMISSION OF THE QUESTION OF LEVYING A RENEWAL AND AN INCREASE IN EXCESS OF THE TEN-MILL LIMITATION FOR THE PURPOSES SET FORTH IN AND PURSUANT TO 5705.19 (G) OF THE O.R.C. SECONDED BY TRUSTEE GRESS. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-032

Roll call voting: Mr. Lynch – YES; Mr. Gress –YES

2011, January 27 Trustees Minutes (Cont.)

ZONING DEPARTMENT: (Dale Riggenbach, Interim Zoning Inspector)

Trustee Gress introduced Interim Zoning Inspector, Dale Riggenbach, stating Mr. Riggenbach has been active in the township serving on the Board of Zoning Appeals for six (6) years. The zoning inspector position will be advertised at after the new job description is completed.

Zoning Report: TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE WRITTEN ZONING REPORT FOR JANUARY 27, 2011 SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LYNCH. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-033

Roll call voting: Mr. Gress – YES; Mr. Lynch – YES

FISCAL OFFICER: Mr. Evans said all is well with the township finances at this time.

TRUSTEES:

Group Healthcare Insurance: After talking to employees asking if they were satisfied with the current healthcare plan, TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED TO RENEW THE GROUP HEALTHCARE INSURANCE WITH AULTCARE EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2011 SECONDED BY TRUSTEE GRESS. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-034

Roll call voting: Mr. Lynch – YES; Mr. Gress - YES

Fee for Conditional Zoning Certificates for home businesses: After discussion and due to hard economic times, TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED TO ELIMINATE THE $50.00 YEARLY FEE FOR CONDITIONAL ZONING CERTIFICATES FOR HOME BUSINESSES FOR 2011 SECONDED BY TRUSTEE GRESS. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-035

Roll call voting: Mr. Lynch – YES; Mr. Gress – YES

Zoning Inspector Job Description: Trustee Gress said when he started working on the job description, he didn’t think there was one in place. However, he found out that one had been adopted in 1994. After discussion, the Board agreed to adopt the newly updated description. TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED TO ADOPT THE NEW JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE ZONING INSPECTOR AS PRESENTED EFFECTIVE JAN. 27, 2011 SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LYNCH. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-036

Roll call voting: Mr. Gress – YES; Mr. Lynch – YES

Update on gas well fracking meeting: Trustee Gress attended a meeting at Plain Township on fracking. Fracking is a term for hydraulic fracturing – a process used in oil and gas drilling by pumping water, sand and various chemicals into the pipeline that goes to where the rock formations are. This causes a minor explosion allowing the gas to escape and come up the pipe. ODNR has authority over all drilling and mining operations. Mr. Gress said he sees nothing beneficial - only bad things such as:

o Energy independence? The truth is the gas pulled out of OH doesn’t necessarily stay in OH. It goes on the global market.

o Contamination: There’s evidence of contamination to ground water. It’s rare but it does happen.

o More jobs? These jobs only last about a week. That’s all the time it takes to drill a well.

Trustee Gress feels there’s no advantage to hydraulic fracking and it’s his opinion we should oppose it.

2011, January 27 Trustees Minutes (Cont.)

Update on the BAS meeting in Columbus: Trustee Gress attended the BAS (Boundary Annexation Survey) meeting at ODOT in Columbus. GPS (Global Positioning System) is used for all kinds of things in today’s world. The Census Bureau is now moving to GPS to map everything and finding there’s a lot of mistakes such as rivers, streets and boundaries are not where they are supposed to be. They are asking local entities to fill out forms (on-line) once a year and list any changes in boundaries, surveys, etc.

Progress of Employee Handbook: Trustee Gress said he should have the first draft ready for the next meeting on Feb. 24^th and hopes to have it completed sometime in March.

Review Township-City meeting regarding yard waste: Since the City of Louisville closed their compost facility, city residents will be bringing their yard waste to the township compost facility. Daily cleanup of the compost area is a considerable expense to the township. Mr. Gress said he and Jack met with City Manager Tom Ault, Mayor Pat Fallot and City Service Director Jim McBeath. City and Township population is almost the same and there was talk of splitting the cost 50/50. Mr. Ault is taking this back to City Council and Mr. Gress is anticipating that this will be the agreement.

SCTA: Trustee Lynch attended the SCTA (Stark County Township Association) meeting last week. Commissioner Ferguson was there and talked about drainage issues. They would like to set up public meetings with communities to discuss county government and its finances and listen to questions and suggestions from residents. The township is interested in hosting one of these public meetings.

APPROVE JANUARY 13, 2011 MINUTES:

TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE JAN. 13, 2011 MINUTES AS WRITTEN SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LYNCH. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-037

Roll call voting: Mr. Gress – YES; Mr. Lynch - YES

APPROVE ALL PURCHASE ORDERS, FINANCIAL REPORT AND PAY BILLS:

TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED TO APPROVE ALL PUCHASE ORDERS, FINANCIAL REPORT AND PAY BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,096.35 SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LYNCH. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-038

Roll call voting: Mr. Gress – YES; Mr. Lynch - YES

SIGN CHECKS AND ADJOURN:

TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED TO SIGN CHECKS AND ADJOURN AT 7:35 PM SECONDED BY TRUSTEE LYNCH. MOTION CARRIED. RES#11-039

Roll call voting: Mr. Gress – YES; Mr. Lynch – YES

_____________________________ _________________________________

ATTEST: Barry L. Evans Michael L. Lynch, President

Fiscal Officer

__________________________________

Allen E. Gress, Vice President

_________ABSENT_________________

Lisa R. Shafer, Trustee