SPECIAL TRUSTEE MEETING
SEPTEMBER 23, 2004
The Richfield Township Special Trustee Meeting was called to order at 7.10pm on
September 23, 2004.
Roll call: Trustees present: Shano Cica-Mraz, David Wyatt and Laurie Peters
Gilmore
Township Administrator: Linda Bowmer
In the absence of the Clerk, Ms. Bowmer took the minutes. Summit County Engineer
Greg Bachman did a presentation covering construction projects in Summit County
and specific projects in the township. Mr. Bachman had taken over as Engineer in
July 2003 with the department $1 million in debt and needing $7 million to
finance projects on the books. They are now in much better financial shape and
finally ‘in the black’. Storm drainage is their first priority and they
pioneered using an innovative techniques in Ohio called ‘soil nailing’ to
prevent landslides on Everett Road. Soil nailing costs 10% of traditional
methods. The bridges in the country are now in good shape with Summit County
bridges ranking in the top 20% in Ohio. Load tests done on the Harter Road
Bridge over the Rocky River showed the bridge was strong enough for the removal
of load limits. The County is initiating a pilot program using salt brine ahead
of a snow fall which results in not as much ice adhering to the road, less over
spray and lower consumption of salt.
Mr. Bachman felt challenges facing his department included (1)
resurfacing/maintenance of roads – when funds become available, (2) scouring of
bridges, and (3) county ditching and repair of storm damage. Addressing our
local problems, Mr. Bachman said the county would support our request to ODOT to
reduce the speed limit on Medina Line Road from 55 mph to 45 mph. Next year the
County hopes to be able to reconstruct the pavement on Boston Mills Road from
Black Road to the County’s workstation.
The County has applied for grant money to widen lanes on roads leading into the
National Park. Roads they are considering include: (1) Southern to Everett, (2)
Boston Mills to the park, (3) Brush Road, and (4) Black Road. The trustees
suggested they consider Wheatley Road as well.
Vern Hartenburg, the executive director of the Cleveland Metroparks, presented
new ideas on what to do about Rising Valley Park. Two years ago the Cleveland
Metroparks committed to secure a greenway corridor along the East branch of the
Rocky River from Hinckley Reservation to the Cuyahoga County line, approx. 8
miles. Rising Valley Park lies along this corridor and the Metroparks want to
offer their natural resource expertise. Hinckley Trustee Ron Rhodes urged the
trustees to take advantage of the Metroparks offer. The following three options
were discussed at length, with members of Rising Valley Park board also in
attendance.
Option 1 – Ownership stays as-in, overlaid with a conservation easement on the
natural portion only of the park (183 acres all located in Hinckley). Under the
conservation easement the Metroparks would be in charge of managing the land,
i.e. removing invasive plant & animal species, planting of trees & shrubs,
pathways & viewing decks, interactive displays.
Option 2 – Metroparks assumes Hinckley’s portion of the park and partners with
Richfield Township. Hinckley had initiated some discussion with the Department
of the Interior and this would not appear to be a problem.
Option 3 – The 60+ acres of Rising Valley Park which lies within Richfield
Township, including the baseball fields and other recreational facilities, would
be fee/title given to Richfield Township.
Any change in the initial agreement would need approval from the trustees
according to the joint ownership agreement. The trustees will take the matter
under advisement.
Road Department report – The final chipping of the season will take place during
the week of October 11th. The service department has been busy ditching and
sealing roads for winter.
Administration report – Ohio Edison has been trimming trees around power lines
in the area. The office has received a number of complaints and Ohio Edison has
supplied a number for residents to call. The tire recycle drive sponsored by
SASWMA will be held on October 9th from 9.00am to 1.00 behind Town Hall. Proof
of residency is required and the disposal cost will be $1/tire. At a recent
Township dinner, Speak James McCarthy reminded attendees that a county ordinance
prohibits the discharge of a firearm within 100 yards of an inhabited dwelling.
A copy of this ordinance will be given to the police to enforce as hunting
season approaches. The county has negotiated a gas aggregation fixed rate of
8.09 mcf with Shell Gas. Residents who signed up prior to September 17th can
take advantage of this aggregation rate.
Speaking as citizens and not in an official capacity, Trustees Wyatt and Mraz
spoke in support of Summit County Children’s Services levy, Issue 91. It was
noted that Issue is a renewal levy that would not increase taxes and the levy
accounts for 60% of CSB’s funding.
The Trustees approved the appointments of several zoning members. Gene Kulp will
serve a five-year term on the Zoning Commission, with Dennis Skoda named as an
alternate. Ingolf Nitsch was appointed to a five-year term on the Board of
Zoning Appeals with Bob Stone and Tom Johnson named as alternates. One alternate
spot is still open on the Zoning Commission and trustees will accept application
until the end of October.
The police contract with the Village expires September 30, 2004 and the Village
has declined the Township’s request for the one-year extension as outlined in
the contract. Ms Mraz made a motion authorizing the Board of Trustees to
enter into an agreement with the Village of Richfield for police services for
the period commencing October 1, 2004 up to and including December 31, 2004 at a
charge of $ 94,056.00. At the suggestion of Bobbie Beshara, Council’s
liaison with the Township, the motion was amended to include mention of the fact
that this action was taken in accordance with Village Resolution 64-2004, voted
on at Council’s meeting on Tuesday, September 21, 2004. This figure represents a
5% increase from the previous contract and the three-month extension will give
the Village more time to assess their costs. Motion was seconded by Mr.
Wyatt, motion pass unanimously.
Citizens Forum: Tom Sader, 5044 Streetsboro Road, commented that tractor-trailer
traffic had increased on Black and Boston Mills Roads. Ms Mraz said that
unfortunately the trustees have no power to control the volume of traffic on
county roads.
Ms. Mraz made a motion to adjourn to executive session with John Slagter,
attorney, to discuss pending litigation at 8.55pm, seconded by Ms Gilmore;
motion carried unanimously.
Ms. Mraz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10.55 pm, seconded by Mr.
Wyatt; motion carried unanimously.
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Last updated: 02/25/2006