The regular meeting of the Rootstown Township Trustees opened at 5:30 p.m. on January 9, 2007. Those in attendance were Trustees David Armentrout, Diane Dillon and Bonnie Howe, Fiscal Officer, JoAnn Townend, Darrell Stephens, Chief Palmer, Jim Mahood, Van Black and Julie Carpenter.

JoAnn Townend, Fiscal Officer opened the meeting at 5:30 PM.

Resolution No. 2007-001 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to appoint Trustee David Armentrout as Chairman for 2007. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-002 – Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Bonnie Howe to appoint Trustee Diane Dillon as Vice Chairperson for 2007. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

There were a total of 880 calls for 2006.

They are conducting a weeklong class reviewing all the operations of the department. Friday will be the last day.

Chief Palmer is preparing an annual report for the Boards review.

There are several Township items Chief Palmer would like to sell. The Board asked Chief Palmer to get verbiage from the Prosecutor’s Office.

Jeff Tyler and Martin Jenior have accepted positions on the fire department. Mike Lorentz chose to stay with the Hartville Fire Department full time and will work here on a part time basis. Justin Deluke’s physical results should be back next Tuesday.

They will be burning a house next month at the end of Marks Avenue. Letters have been sent to residents. NEOUCOM has donated the house to us.

JoAnn received the 2007 certificate of the annual election of board members for the Volunteer Department Dependence Fund. Chief Palmer will complete the form and return it to JoAnn.

Diane presented the Fire Department Personnel Manual to the Board. Jennifer Redman has made her recommendations.

Resolution No. 2007-003 - Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Bonnie Howe to adopt the Rootstown Township Fire Department Personnel Manual and accept the recommendations from Jennifer Redman, Portage County Prosecutor’s Office. Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Paul Galido, Portage County Bicentennial Committee was present and gave the Board an information form that needs to be completed. The Bicentennial Committee meets on the second Wednesday of each month.

Mr. Galido is a resident of Clover Drive and is concerned of residents parking on both sides of the street (Violet and Clover Drive). He doesn’t think a snowplow could make it through let along a fire truck. Darrell said there are “no parking when snow exceeds 2 inches” posted. Mr. Galido said he did not see any signs posted. Darrell will check it out.

Resolution No. 2007-004 - Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to accept the minutes of December 12, 2006. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-005 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to continue the current times and dates for the Township Trustee Board Meetings commencing at 5:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at the Rootstown Town Hall. Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-006 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to continue using Key Bank as the Township checking account and Star Ohio as the Township savings/investment account. Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-007 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to adopt the existing fees for the cemetery. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

JoAnn suggested having a penalty for checks returned for non-sufficient funds. The Board asked JoAnn to prepare a policy for their review.

Resolution No. 2007-008 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to adopt the current copy fee to .10 cents per page. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-009 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to adopt the current equipment value at $500.00 not covered by Ohio Revised Code to be included in the year-end Township property inventory. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-010 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to re-appoint David Armentrout as zoning liaison, Diane Dillon as fire liaison and Bonnie Howe as road liaison, and. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-011 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to keep the current mileage reimbursement rate of $0.485 per mile according to State regulations. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Dave suggested increasing all the zoning fees $20.00 for 2007 due to the additional costs occurred by Regional Planning Commission. The Board agreed to table this discussion at this time.

Resolution No. 2007-012 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to keep the current zoning fee schedule at this time. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Dave suggested Jim Mahood using the old Township truck for zoning purposes.

Resolution No. 2007-013 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to re-appoint David Armentrout as representative to the Regional Planning Commission Board Meetings and appoint Diane Dillon as his alternate. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

ZONING INSPECTOR’S REPORT

There were six (6) acts of business.

Jim drafted a letter to Mr. David Krummel for the Boards review. Mr. Krummel is leasing or renting his condos located on Pine Drive in Marsh Creek Development and these properties are in an R-2 (single family) residential area. Jim faxed the resolution and minutes of the Zoning Commission meeting to Mr. Krummel.

Jim sent a letter to Mr. Gary Lorentz regarding landscaping his rentals on Lynn Road. Jim received a phone call from him saying he is not going to do anything more to the property. The Board agreed to view the property.

Becky Brittain and Bruce Ahrens of Sandy Lake Road and are members of the Sandy Lake Association were present to express their concerns of a resident who has approximately two (2) dumpster full of trash on their property. They sent a letter giving the resident three (3) months to clean it up or further action will be taken. They are asking for advice on what action they can take. The Board suggested filing a complaint with the Health Department. The Board asked Jim to check with Chris at the Prosecutor’s Office. Jim will get Ms. Brittain a complaint form.

ROAD SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Nate Adair of St. Rt. 44 and Dan Dillabough of Apple Orchard in Harvest Hills Development were present to express their concerns of their neighbors acting like they own the grass area in the right-away on Apple Orchard. Mr. Adair, who owns the end of the right-away, said their neighbors have been putting up barricades and also put a wire across the road so people cannot go through. Mr. Adair allows Mr. Dillabough to use a portion of his property to store a 4’ X 4’ trailer. These two (2) residents are so obsessed with the property that doesn’t belong to them; they determine who can and cannot access the road to the woods. People go through on horses and 4-wheelers. The Board asked Darrell to view the property as much as he can. Darrell installed reflectors, but the resident brought them back to him. The Board agreed to send a letter to the two (2) residents explaining that this is a Township road and to keep the access to the woods open.

Darrell is reviewing the information from Master Minds regarding the sign inventory.

Darrell put a copy of the 2006 equipment inventory in JoAnn’s mail slot.

Darrell will have a list of roads to pave this year at the next Board meeting.

Darrell reminded Diane he would like to look at the mail slot booklets.

The pressure washer, jack and impact wrench have been purchased.

Darrell reported the bed of the 2003 dump truck is rusting. The Board asked Darrell to get a quote for the other dump truck to prevent it from rusting.

Resolution No. 2007-014 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by David Armentrout to authorize Ravenna Repair Service to sand blast, primer and install a rubber coating on the 2003 dump truck in an amount not to exceed $1,500.00. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

There was one funeral since the last meeting.

The road crew will be working at park installing the turn around – weather permitting.

Resolution No. 2007-015 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by David Armentrout to install streetlights at the corner of Kenneth Drive and Route 18 on the south side. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Mark Donnelly of Apple Orchard was present and is interested in parkland. (He is a representative from the soccer club). He is interested in having soccer fields at Gracie Field. Diane invited him to attend the park meeting on Thursday.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Dave suggested installing and possibly relocating the flagpole.

Resolution No. 2007-016 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to authorize payment to the Rootstown Chamber of Commerce for the 2007 annual membership dues in an amount not to exceed $50.00. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-017 – Motion was made by Diane Dillon and seconded by Bonnie Howe to adopt the Training Log Form. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-018 – Motion was made by Diane Dillon and seconded by Bonnie Howe to set a public hearing for zoning amendment 2006-05 and 2006-06 for Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at 6:30 PM at the Rootstown Town Hall. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

The Board asked Julie to send a thank you letter to Rev. Kelsey for his time for serving on the Zoning Commission Board of Appeals and they regret him declining their offer as alternate.

The Board also asked Julie to send a letter to Mr. Billock for this time for serving on the Zoning Commission Board.

Resolution No. 2007-019 – Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Diane Dillon to appoint the following members to the Rootstown Township Zoning Commission:

Helen Vari - Term ending December 31, 2011
Richard Petro, Alternate – Term ending December 31, 2007
David Ries, Alternate – Term ending December 31, 2007

Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-020 – Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Diane Dillon to appoint the following members to the Rootstown Township Zoning Board of Appeals:

Darrell Wayt, Alternate – Term ending December 31, 2007
Deron Boring – Term ending December 31, 2011

Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Dave received two (2) more pictures for the photo contest.

Dave reported that there are concerns with the road right away with the John Epling project on Lynn Road. It is on the Zoning Board of Appeals agenda for next month.

Dave suggested having the joint board meeting catered. He spoke to Chris Meduri and he said it is allowable, if a member would bring a guest they would have to pay.

FISCAL OFFICER

Resolution No. 2007-021 - Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to pay bills on file with the Fiscal Officer. Upon roll call all yeas and no nays.

JoAnn gave the Board their registration cards from the Portage County Township Association.

JoAnn gave the Board a letter of interest from Robert Nevlin for the Zoning Commission Board. JoAnn also spoke to Ron Snyder and said he submitted his letter of interest to Jim Mahood.

The Portage County Township Association is asking for sponsors to host their meeting in February and August.

JoAnn gave the Board a copy of a letter from Chris Meduri, Portage County Prosecutor’s Office regarding the Portage Salt, LLC appeal.

Resolution No. 2007-022 – Motion was made by Diane Dillon and seconded by Bonnie Howe to accept the Ohio Department of Transportation Annual County Highway System Mileage Certification, as presented by the Portage County Engineer, certifying that the total certified road mileage as of December 31, 2006 in Rootstown Township was 40.15 miles. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-023 – Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by Diane Dillon to authorize the extension of drug and alcohol testing consortium agreement between Working Partners and the Rootstown Township Board of Trustees. Upon roll call the vote as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea, David Armentrout, yea, Diane Dillon, yea.

Resolution No. 2007-024 - Motion was made by David Armentrout to adjourn at 8:25 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

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David Armentrout
Chairman

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JoAnn Townend
Fiscal Officer