July 5, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman John A. Eberly.  All trustees were present. Sue Reid led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

            Motion by Eugene T. McCune, Jr. seconded by Patrick J. Cavanagh to approve the minutes of the regular session of the Board of Trustees of June 20, 2005.  VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed.

 

REPORTS:

            Mr. Jeff Renner, President of the Auburn Volunteer Fire Department, reported thatfinancials and a call report were not ready in time for the meeting but will be presented next meeting. A slide-in unit was purchased using a $4500 grant.  The fire department is looking at a fire grant to pay for a consultant.  The consultant will help determine the future direction for the fire department by considering demographics, growth, equipment needs, funding to pace with income, expenses, staffing options, etc. Kinetico donated the labor for the installation of a used reverse osmosis unit costing $6200. The system will not be used for water to the toilets or sinks but for the protection of the equipment. The used system is guaranteed at 100%. A new unit would cost double what they are paying. Mr. Eberly said they should back out the cost of a tank as he would be happy to donate one to the department.

            Mr. Eberly said the fire station should be sure to look at their worker’s comp. figure for the fire department budget for next year. The Workers’ Comp Commission approved the new administrative cost rate to be 8.97%.

 

            Frank Kitko, Jr., Zoning Inspector, presented the following report for June:

 

Permits/Applications	Month Total	Year Total
Agriculture/Other Exemptions	1	6
Commercial, New Building		1
Commercial Remodeling		1
Commercial Sub Lease		3
Culvert/Ditching		7
Denial	2	3
Industrial Fence		1
Industrial Signs		1
Land Development Activity		1
Residential Accessory Bldg. under 160 SF	1	4
Residential Accessory Bldg. over 160 SF	1	10
Residential Addition	2	14
Residential Deck	2	4
Residential Fence	1	3
Residential Patio	1	1
Residential Sign		1
Residential Signs, temporary building construction	9	31
Single Family Dwelling	7	31
Swimming Pool Above Ground		3
Variance/Conditional Use	3	5
TOTALS	30	131

 

            Dave Wilmot, Road Superintendent, was not present but left the following report:            

            The department used another 170 tons of asphalt in repairs to get the chip seal roads ready. Ronyak finished chipping all the roads on June 24, 2005.  The job looks fine. There were no real complaints.  The asphalt resurfacing of Edwards Lane was completed by Ronyak Bros. Paving in mid June and looks great. The ditching, widening and full depth repair of Quinn Road was completed and the asphalting started on July 1, 2005. Quinn will be asphalt surfaced by Shelly & Sands during the week of July 18, 2005. The road department will do crack seal starting July 11, 2005 and will mow road sides the rest of the summer.

            Auburn had three burials in the last month. They are current on headstone footers that can be put in. They will put the other in after the ground has settled.

            The equipment is in safe working order. Minor repairs have been done on the brush hog and it is running well.

            Employee vacations have begun so help will be a little short for the rest of the summer, leaving a crew of 3 full time workers. The part time employee, Joy Burkholder, has been a lot of help and is working out well.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

     Mr. Joe Gullo, vice president of the Lorian Woods homeowner association was present to discuss reducing speed. It is posted 35 mph currently. He has talked with the sheriff who will monitor the area. Mr. Gullo has researched speed humps which have been used extensively in the UK. The trustees asked him to get info to them on the speed humps and how it would impact snow plowing and other issues. Mr. Eberly said we will need to know the cost, how far apart they need to be, the County Engineer’s as well as Ronyak Paving’ s thoughts and input. Mr. Gullo talked to Mr. Phillips about the issue once, so far. The trustees asked Mr. Gullo to let them know when the traffic is at its worst. They will talk to the sheriff about stronger enforcement. Mr. Carl Schneider asked if there were sidewalks available, would there still be a problem. Mr. Gullo responded that sidewalks would help but there are golf carts and children on bikes who would still be using the roads.

     Steve and Laurie Loy were present. They are the new owners of the Patio Restaurant. The trustees received a Request for Liquor License Transfer for the Patio. They have no objections to the transfer and will waive a hearing. The clerk will sign and send in the Request.

 

            Eugene T. McCune, Jr. did not have a report.

 

            Patrick J. Cavanagh did not have a report. He commented on the July 4^th Parade saying it was a good one.

 

            John A. Eberly also commented on the Parade and the nice event it was. He said that Patti Phillips does a great job with it.

 

            Adam Hall’s new vestibule is 99% completed. There is trim that needs to be completed. Joni Stusek of the County Department of Community & Economic Development said some extra money in the grant could be used if it is used for handicapped accessibility use. The trustees would like to extend the cement work by the handicapped parking. Tenant Construction will check on that. The sinks, drains and faucets are installed in the bathrooms. The lights in the parking lot are on at night for security purposes.  The well needs to be chlorinated and retested. Mr. Eberly talked to John G. Johnson Construction regarding ceramic tile for the kitchen floor and vinyl in the back hall and bathrooms. There was a discussion about the flooring and the quote received from John G. Johnson Construction.

 

            Motion by Gene McCune seconded by Patrick Cavanagh to spend $8314.00 for ceramic tile in the kitchen of Adam Hall and vinyl tile in the back hall and both bathrooms from the Land Acquisition Fund. VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed.

 

            Mr. Eberly said the parking lot gravel seems to be firming up.

 

            Mr. Eberly said that a request for an extension of time was granted to American Diversified on the project known as the Reconstruction of Section F of Taylor May Road.  Ten days were requested. The completion date was extended from June 30, 2005 to July 8, 2005. There was extra ditching and more asphalt required.

           

            Susan Plavcan, Clerk, presented warrants and purchase orders for signatures.

 

            The trustees discussed the upcoming Township Quarterly Dinner Meeting being on the same night as a NOPEC seminar. With upcoming vacations, it seems only the Clerk will attend the Quarterly Dinner Meeting and no one will attend the NOPEC seminar.

            A bill was received from Ohio Department of Administrative Services, Office of Cooperative Purchasing for $110.00 for a year’s membership. The trustees decided not to join this year. It seems that we have not used the Coop.

 

            The clerk read a letter stating that the OPERS Retirement Board has certified employee and employer contribution rates for the calendar year 2006, beginning January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006 as follows:  employee contribution rate will go to 9% (from the current 8.5%); employer contribution rate will go to 13.70% (from the current 13.55%).

 

            The clerk said that we receive two Illuminating Company bills for Adam Hall and has made several calls to Mia Moore with no return answer as to why we receive two bills. Gene McCune said he would follow up and get an answer.

 

            The trustees discussed the needed road levy for the fall ballot.

 

            Motion by Eugene T. McCune, Jr. seconded by Patrick Cavanagh to declare it necessary to levy tax in excess of the ten mill limitation for the purpose of the general construction, reconstruction, repair and resurfacing of streets, roads, and bridges in Auburn Township. This will be a replacement 1 mill road improvement levy for five years.   VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed.

 

            The trustees discussed the Fireside Estates issue. Mr. Eberly met with Margaret Muehling, Lorrie Sass, Jeff Huntsberger and Frank Kitko. A conclusion should be reached at the next meeting of the Planning Commission.

 

            A copy of an Affidavit for Claim was filed with the Geauga County recorder for non payment of materials in the amount of $3,839.20 for material supplied to American Diversified Inc. for work done on Taylor May Road.  This will be sent to the Geauga County Prosecutor’s office.  Eric Drake is our new assistant prosecutor. He will attend our next meeting to be introduced and discuss some issues in process.

 

            Motion by Patrick J. Cavanagh seconded by Gene McCune to adopt the preliminary budget for 2006.  VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed.

 

            Motion by Eugene T. McCune, Jr. seconded by Patrick J. Cavanagh to recess the meeting. VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed. The meeting was recessed.