MADISON
TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES WORKSHOP
The meeting was
called to order by Chairman Bill Brotzman with the following people present: Mr.
Wayman, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Advey, Chief Del Calzo, Township Solicitor, Ron
Graham, Mr. Cook. Mrs. Gerred-Ditchcreek was not in attendance.
Mrs.
Gerred-Ditchcreek stated that she attended the GASB 54, the new accounting
system that the state is switching to. She stated that she doesn’t know
everything about it yet but noted that it’s another complicated procedure for
year end when the financial statements are completed for next year. She stated
that she’s hoping that UAN will transfer the numbers into these combined
financial statements. Mr. Anderson asked if this will cost more money and Mrs.
Gerred-Ditchcreek stated it will not.
Mrs.
Gerred-Ditchcreek stated that she has been working on the budget with Mr. Advey
and Chief Del Calzo, which appropriations are due by the 15th of
December. She noted that they always want estimated resources at the end of the
year but she tries to wait until she has actual cash balances to give them that
number. She wanted to note that last year she lowered her own numbers and she
used what the County told her the Township would be getting in real estate
taxes, but now those amounts are lower in every category of real estate taxes.
Mr. Wayman asked how short it is and she stated $60,000.00 short in police,
$13,000.00 short in general fund and road and bridge. She stated that this year
she is using her own numbers as they were closer and noted that maybe some
delinquent tax money will come in. She stated that she will keep it as cautious
as she can on the real estate portion. She stated that we are controlling things
in other ways with expenses. She noted that they will need some money for gas
for road and bridge, but that is one of the resolutions for this evening.
Chief Del Calzo
stated that he will be asking for a motion to hire a new employee as a part time
officer and a part-time dispatcher. He stated the person is Chris Anderson, who
has worked for our service department and is no relation to Mr. Anderson. Mrs.
Gerred-Ditchcreek asked how much he will be paid and Chief Del Calzo stated that
the part-time patrolman salary will be $15.45 per hour and the part-time
dispatch salary will be $15.50 per hour.
Mr. Advey stated
that he handed out a copy of the news release received today from the Lake
County Engineer’s Office in regards to Lake Road being officially open. He
stated he drove on it this afternoon and it is in very nice condition.
Mr. Advey discussed
the Township Park construction noting that it has started. He stated that one of
the concrete piers was concrete covering several railroad ties. He contacted
Affordable Roll-Off for a quote on the removal of them, he noted that he asked
that when they do submit the invoice that they mark it
Township Park Beach Enhancement so
that it can be paid from that fund. He noted that he didn’t inspect them but if
anyone is in need of them to feel free to take them. He stated that in regards
to the State Capital Budget bill money on the beach enhancement project, he
spoke to Dameyon Shipley who is doing the paperwork on the extension of the
funds until September 2012. He noted this is a formality and there is no problem
with that. He stated that their issue of the balance of the funds from the
$300,000.00, we’ve received about $99,000.00 and when we see that we are getting
close to the end of the expenditures of this $99,000.00, we are to let him know
how much more we need. He stated that John Matriacardi, Matrix Engineering, was
in today and they are doing their survey off-shore and hasn’t had a chance to
work on the cost of the boat ramp. Mr. Advey stated that he is waiting on that
cost to see if we have enough money or if he will need to go to another source
for the funds. Mrs. Gerred-Ditchcreek stated that we have $258,970.00 of the
$299,000.00 right now. He questioned that the $200,000.00 is the initial money
we received and Mrs. Gerred-Ditchcreek confirmed and stated that plus the
$58,970.00 is from out of the $99,000.00. Mr. Advey stated that he will speak to
them and that it is all up to the weather and this part of the project is going
to be around $269,000.00 plus the engineering for the boat ramp.
Mr. Advey discussed
the MCIC’s idea of forming a committee and going after grants for Township Park.
He stated that he isn’t sure if they would be able to obtain any grants for the
park, due to the Township owning it. He stated he discussed this with Trevor,
who stated that one requirements of the Nature Works grant is to have a
volunteer committee in place. He stated that his concern is that there is the
same number of directors sitting there month after month, and he questions if
they will personally be volunteering or are they going to try to obtain
volunteers. Mr. Brotzman stated that he spoke with Trevor the other day and he
stated that they have a stock pile of trees that they have saved from where the
middle school is being built. He told Treveor that the Madison Garden Club did a
project where they were going to plant trees along Route 20 and questioned
whether they ever finished that. Mr. Advey stated that they went to ODOT with
that and did do some plantings but that they had
to get them out of the road right-of-way and noted that the ones they did
put in the right-of-way got pulled when they put the sidewalks in. Mr. Brotzman
stated that he doesn’t know how many trees we would want in Township Park, Mr.
Advey stated that he doesn’t want trees in that park as it would cause
maintenance issues. Mr. Advey continued that Paul will continue to try to find
something by way of grants to get the MCIC involved. He stated that Trevor was
interested in doing a fundraiser to replace the split rail fence, and noted that
Paul stated he has plenty of that material on-hand but not enough to do the
whole thing. He noted that they are willing to come forward and raise funds to
help do things down there. He stated that the Township has a good start on it
with the pavilion being fixed up and the breakwaters going in and noted it would
be nice to get the parking lot and driveway re-done but that would be very
costly. Mr. Anderson asked if the County was going to do part of the driveways
in and out of the park and Mr. Advey stated yes but only as far in as they were
working.
Mr. Advey stated
that he attended the Arcola Creek Watershed meeting, involving the stakeholders
and the people with concerns for it. He stated that there was a good turn out
and they will be meeting once a month. He reminded the Board when the study was
done for Arcola Creek, there was discussion for building large ponds
approximately five or six acres off the sides of it so that the stormwater would
have a place to go. He stated that Maureen Orndorff is trying to get back on the
plan and she says that the plan has been completed and now it’s time to
implement it. He noted that there are different points of view on what Arcola
Creek should be or shouldn’t be. He discussed the beaver dams that he had
removed in the past and noted that one of the residents stated that this is
Mother Nature’s way of controlling flooding. Mr. Advey stated that this will be
on-going. Mr. Wayman asked about the sand bar under the Route 20 bridge and Mr.
Advey stated that they hasn’t heard back from ODOT yet but will follow up on it.
He stated that he has had many compliments on trees being removed.
Mr. Advey stated
that the OPWC Bathgate/N Watling Way project has begun. He stated that they
started clearing today. He passed out a letter and map that was handed out to
the residents being affected by this project.
Mr. Advey stated
that he Mr. Klco hasn’t been feeling well and won’t be attending the meeting
this evening but he did leave his report for all to review.
Mrs.
Gerred-Ditchcreek asked Mr. Advey if he heard anything about the healthcare
costs. Mr. Advey stated that he hasn’t heard from Sean Sprouse yet and with the
repeal of SB5 and based on what they were saying prior, we should remain the
same or maybe even get a discount. She stated that she is only asking so that
she can put that in the appropriations that are due on the 15th.
Mrs.
Gerred-Ditchcreek stated that for the budget side, she needs to know how the
Board feels about upcoming raises. She stated that there haven’t been raises for
two years and wondered if we need to go one more year. She stated that she is
not comfortable doing any big raises right now but that this is something she
needs to know
before she finishes
the budget numbers. Chief Del Calzo stated that the union has a wage re-opener
for this year. She asked what the date is on that and he stated that
typically they would
want it to be done by the end of the year. She stated that she will give
everyone a copy of what the County gave her, she noted that the local government
is definitely cut, tangible personal property tax is gone and intangible, and
one more year of inheritance tax, which she noted doesn’t affect the salaries.
She stated that we are not getting any extra money and we’re short on property
tax now, which will come in but who knows when. She reiterated that the areas
short are; $60,000.00 for police, $13,000.00 for road and bridge, $13,000.00 for
general fund and then with the tangible and intangible being gone. Chief Del
Calzo stated that the $60,000.00 concerns him but he is more concerned with the
re-evaluation next year. He stated that it’s not a real bright future and Mrs.
Gerred-Ditchcreek stated that this is why they need to be cautious.
With no further
business to come before the Board, Mr. Brotzman adjourned the Workshop Meeting
at 6:22 p.m.
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