Chairman Seliskar called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 pm with the following members present: Trustees Adams, Kothera and Seliskar, Fiscal Officer Saunders and Zoning Inspector Erik Mirossay. Also present were residents Mr. & Mrs. Fain of 12213 Hunt Road, Cy Zion and Pat Jonath of Madison Road, and Ann Wishart of the Geauga Maple Leaf.
The proper papers were notified.
The minutes of the April 3, 2007 meeting were reviewed and the following action taken.
RESOLUTION # 2007-028
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Trustee Adams and seconded by
Trustee Kothera to approve the minutes of the April 3, 2007
meeting as presented.
Roll Call:
Yes
No
Kothera
X
Seliskar
X
Adams
X
Motion Unanimously Carried
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Fiscal Officer Saunders presented bills, vouchers, purchase orders and warrants for board approval.
RESOLUTION # 2007- 029
Approval of bills for payment
A motion was made by Trustee Adams and seconded by
Trustee Seliskar to approve for payment bills submitted.
Voucher # 628 through Voucher # 649 as presented.
Roll Call:
Yes
No
Kothera
Abstain
Seliskar
X
Adams
X
Motion carried
Trustee Kothera abstained due to related parties’ issues.
ZONING REPORT:
Zoning Inspector Erik Mirossay updated trustees on inquiries made, activities of the zoning office and actions taken.
The Romask drive has taken up a lot of time Mr. Leichtman and his attorney have taken exception to our decision that it is a private matter and not a Zoning Issue. All correspondence was referred to Chris Sheridan our legal advisor and he agrees it is a private matter concerning deed restrictions and the two parties need to work out an agreement. Mr. Romask called today and I informed him we are out of it. He stated he might not install this drive for another two years.
The letter from Vista Hearing and a letter from the Board were sent to our legal counsel, Chris Sheridan for review and comment he approved the letter to be sent and it was mailed yesterday. It reads:
Dear Mr. Whitney and Ms Pelletier:
We, the Board of Trustees, are in receipt of your March 16, 2007 letter. We are sorry to hear you found Mr. Mirossay’s letter to be offensive; that was not the intent. We instructed and approved the letter sent to several businesses operating without permits and you are the only business owner to have taken the letter to be as you say, pushy, badgering and threatening. We felt the letter was very factual and offered assistance if the Zoning Inspector was contacted.
Huntsburg Township has had Zoning for close to 50 years. The first resolution was adopted in 1958. It is the responsibility of the resident to apply for a Zoning Permit. If you had applied and received a permit for you home occupation when you first opened your business you would be grand fathered under the terms and conditions granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals at that time. Since you did not and zoning predates your start of business at the above address you are in violation of current zoning.
Mr. Mirossay was appointed to the position of Zoning Inspector on December 1, 2006. He has been instructed by this board to enforce the zoning resolution. As part of his duties he was asked to bring all businesses into compliance.
The application mailed to you was general in nature, not all requirements are applicable to your professional office. If you had contacted the office and inquired about the application the Zoning Inspector or the Fiscal Officer would have assisted you in completing your application.
You are required to file an application for a Home Occupation Conditional Use Permit within 30 days. A new application is being provided and the items required are highlighted. If you need further assistance please contact our office.
We have received several workshop notifications for Zoning Members and have forwarded to the Zoning Members.
The Board of Appeals will hold two public hearings on Monday the 23rd; Jerry Miller Cabinet Shop (CUP) on Pioneer Road and Rollin West area variance on Mayfield Road.
MAINTENANCE REPORT:
Roads:
Maintenance crews have been completing standard maintenance for this time of year, in addition to the normal maintenance crews had to battle 118 hours of snow. A tree and wire came down on Huntley Road and crews assisted with the road closure until it was repaired.
The County Commissioners released the 33% Load Limits on all County & Township Roads on April 16.
Spring Cleanup Day will be May 5th starting at 7:00 am and continuing until 11:00 am or filled.
Maintenance Agreements for each heating unit was received from W. F. Hann & Sons HAVSCO please review and comment:
RESOLUTION # 2007-030
Approval W.F. Hann Contracts
A motion was made by Trustee Seliskar and seconded by
Trustee Kothera to approve the contracts from W.F. Hann
And Sons HAVSCO for the maintenance on the townships
Heating systems for all buildings.
Roll Call:
Yes
No
Kothera
X
Seliskar
X
Adams
X
Motion Unanimously Carried.
Chris Sheridan reviewed concerns for the electrical line problem on Princeton Road and stated the National Electrical Code section 230.24(B) requires a line crossing a road to be a minimum of eighteen (18’) feet above the road. A letter will be sent to the Haueters and a copy to the building dept. The building dept. will check to make sure it is the proper height. A township right-of-way permit is also required to cross the road.
RESOLUTION # 2007-031
Right-of-Way Permits
A motion was made by Trustee Adams and seconded by
Trustee Kothera to ask the Geauga County Engineer to
Issue all Huntsburg Township Road right-of-way permits.
Roll Call:
Yes
No
Kothera
X
Seliskar
X
Adams
X
Motion Unanimously Carried.
RESOLUTION # 2007-032
RESOLUTION OF CONVENIENCE & NECESSITY FOR
THE IMPROVEMENT OF A PORTION OF STILLWELL ROAD, TR 110
Huntsburg Township, Geauga County, Ohio
A motion was made by Trustee Adams and seconded by
Trustee Kothera to approve the following resolution
WHEREAS, the Huntsburg Township Board of Trustees has determined that the public convenience and welfare require the improvement of Stillwell Road, TR 110, from Princeton Road to the dead end (located approximately 0.38 miles east of the intersection with Princeton Road), and to authorize the Geauga County Engineer to prepare engineering plans in accordance with Section 5573.01 of the Ohio Revised Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by a unanimous vote of a full board of the Huntsburg Township Board of Trustees that the public convenience and welfare requires the improvement of a portion of Stillwell Road, TR 110, in the Township of Huntsburg, County of Geauga and State of Ohio byconstructing and reconstructing culverts, performing drainage improvements, cement stabilizing, asphalt paving and improving the shoulders as necessary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Geauga County Engineer is hereby directed to make such surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates and specifications as are required for the improvement and to transmit copies of the same to this board.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the costs and expenses of said improvement shall be apportioned as follows:
The construction costs for the project shall be paid from local funding sources. The engineering will be provided by the Geauga County Engineer at no cost to the Township.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fiscal Officer of the Huntsburg Township Board of Trustees is hereby instructed to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Geauga County Engineer.
Roll Call:
Yes
No
Kothera
X
Seliskar
X
Adams
X
Motion Unanimously Carried
TOWN HALL:
Fire Alarm Monitoring: America Alert representative Gayle Loftus attended our meeting. She informed the board of the alarm monitoring system they had available. It is a radio monitoring system and is unique. Each devise is independent of the others. When a call comes in they will be able to notify the fire department what, where and which devise is sending the alert. She will make arrangements to survey our equipment and attend the next meeting with her findings. A quote will be offered at that time.
PARK:
Lynette Bramley sent a letter informing the Board on the activities planned for Memorial Day. It will be held on Monday May 28 at noon and the VFW will officiate the service. She inquired if any of the trustees would like to participate in the Ceremony.
Trustee Seliskar will have the surfaces at the tennis and basketball courts checked to see if any repairs are necessary.
8:00 Bid Openings:
Only one bid was received for dust control from Calcium Chloride Sales, Inc. and one bid for road materials from Arms Trucking Co. Trustees will review the information and make a decision at the May 1, 2007 meeting.
Mr. & Mrs. Fain were present to see what steps can be taken to remedy the dusty road conditions. She asked how could we get from a gravel road to a paved road? Trustee Seliskar explained the current budget difficulties, cost of paving a road and the assessment process. The fiscal officer will find out more information about the assessment process.
Mrs. Fain asked if the township would not continue to grade the roads so they could harden and not produce as much dust. Trustee Seliskar and Adams both commented that spring is the only time you can properly shape a road.
OLD BUSINESS:
Trustee Kothera reported on the meeting she attended on April 13. Discussion on the Proposed Power line was the topic and First Energy conducted the informal meeting. The first energy representative said the final decision on what route to be used will be made by the Ohio Power Siting Board. They use a formula that allows 40 percent weight to the social impact, 40 percent to the environmental impact, and 20 percent to engineering consideration. If Clay Street is chosen it will impact 140 properties, Route 528 will impact 70 properties. Many township officials and other county and state officials are working with First Energy to find a better alternative.
NEW BUSINESS:
Fiscal Officer Saunders reported on her attendance at the GTA Dinner Meeting last week and handed out copies of their handout from the Ohio Ethics Commission. The meeting was informative.
The Geauga County Commissioners informed the township that we would no longer be able to receive hospitalization for our employees through the county plan.
Geauga County is looking for a Budget Officer
CORRESPONDENCE:
Auditor of State Bulletin 2007-002 was received. The subject is creating Reserve Balance Accounts.
Geauga County Community & Economic Development is conducting a Community Assessment Survey (CAS) for the future allocation of CDBG funds. The form needs to be completed. They also sent a brochure concerning Foreclosure Prevention Program.
The Census sent a form to be completed.
Abitbi Paper recycling program is offering a challenge to do better than last year and earn Cash. We did not contract with them last year so they will assign us a goal. I will check on it and see if it is to our advantage to join in.
Communications from OTA & GTA were received and sent on by email concerning Local Government Funding HB 119, HB
50 – Junk Vehicles,
HB 3&4 Estate Tax Repeal,
SB 117 Video Franchising Authority
A communication from John Pestle concerning FCC order attempting to revise cable-franchising process was received and reviewed.
NOACA April 6 letter concerning their partnering with the National Center for Biking & Walking to sponsor 6 Walkable Community Workshops
C.M.R.O. Concerned Motorcycle Riders of Ohio wish to have May proclaimed as Motorcyclist Awareness Month in Huntsburg Township.
OTARMA Update First Quarter 2007
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:47 pm.