Honesty and integrity counted for nought
Soon we'll see what money bought
Results of election mean "new" direction
When de facto trustees come on--
Lawry Lightsout and Mantua Dawn
Friday, December 16, 2011
Upcoming: Public Hearing, Zoning; Fracking
For your information, on Monday, 12/19, there will be a public hearing on the new zoning book, as required by law, at 7:00 p.m. in the Civic Center. Todd Peets, Regional Planning, will be at this hearing. Claudia James, who was, from comments from everyone who worked on the zoning rewrite, brilliantly instrumental in getting it all done, will be unable to attend. Thus, Todd will be there.
Jason Carlton announced as part of his report that there will be a meeting for zoning inspectors regarding fracking. Jason would like for someone to attend that. "I did not write down the date, but it is next year."
Note: I asked Vic about where this meeting would be, and it will be at Regional Planning. Date and time to be given later, and we can hope that we get that information at the next trustees meeting, and not after the event.
Jason Carlton announced as part of his report that there will be a meeting for zoning inspectors regarding fracking. Jason would like for someone to attend that. "I did not write down the date, but it is next year."
Note: I asked Vic about where this meeting would be, and it will be at Regional Planning. Date and time to be given later, and we can hope that we get that information at the next trustees meeting, and not after the event.
Mantua Township Trustees, 12-15-11, Public Comment
Public Comment began at 9:12.
Roger Hurd, Mantua Center Road: Mark, I would like to thank you for your service to the township. You have three characteristics that I admire--honesty, integrity, and independence, especially that [last] because you are not beholden to any person or group, and I admire that. Thank you.
Larry Parsons: No comment.
Carole Pollard, Allyn Road: [Note: My remarks at this meeting were impromptu, not written out, so they are being summarized from memory.] I commented that Mark had steadily grown in stature, especially in the past two years, when he had remained resolutely cheerful despite the abuse he had endured from the peanut gallery. [Note: If you have been reading the blog all along, that needs no definition or explanation.] I also said that I would miss his presence on the board and that I thought that the township as time went on would increasingly feel the loss that the 2011 election represents.
Larry Lietzow and Dan Cozzens: No comment. [Blogger: Carol Srajer's comments came between these two, but I put them together because I thought it was interesting that after an hour or more of running commentary and muttering from their corner at the back of the hall, they had nothing to say in public comment.]
Carol Srajer, Winchell Road: I echo what Roger Hurd said--that you are independent and I appreciate and value that.
Matt Parsons: No comment.
Steve Zielinski, S.R. 82: I want to wish everyone a happy new year. I look forward to Mr. Festa coming on in January..
Dave Pollard, S.R. 82: I am going to sound like a broken record. Mark, I am going to miss you. After 26 years in the township, you have given more than people who have lived here their whole lives and more than if they live to be 100. In what was acknowledged to be the dirtiest campaign on record, you conducted yourself in an adult manner. I know you and your family took a lot of abuse that I do not think will end soon. As Roger said, you have conduced yourself in an adult manner.
A number of people are looking forward to the next two years for various reasons.
I can elaborate on my bill if you want me to. [Blogger: Dave had mowed the roadsides at Meadow Creek, off Chamberlin Road, and had sent a bill to the fiscal officer indicating the details of the work and the equipment, all as donations. Vic thanked him for the work.]
At 9:18, the board moved to pay the bills.
Subsequently, executive sessions lasted another hour. The camera was packed up at the end of public comment, as usual. Your faithful blogger usually does not stay for the end of meetings that go into executive session, either. The results are available in the official minutes of the meeting, available upon request after they have been presented and approved at the first meeting in January.
Roger Hurd, Mantua Center Road: Mark, I would like to thank you for your service to the township. You have three characteristics that I admire--honesty, integrity, and independence, especially that [last] because you are not beholden to any person or group, and I admire that. Thank you.
Larry Parsons: No comment.
Carole Pollard, Allyn Road: [Note: My remarks at this meeting were impromptu, not written out, so they are being summarized from memory.] I commented that Mark had steadily grown in stature, especially in the past two years, when he had remained resolutely cheerful despite the abuse he had endured from the peanut gallery. [Note: If you have been reading the blog all along, that needs no definition or explanation.] I also said that I would miss his presence on the board and that I thought that the township as time went on would increasingly feel the loss that the 2011 election represents.
Larry Lietzow and Dan Cozzens: No comment. [Blogger: Carol Srajer's comments came between these two, but I put them together because I thought it was interesting that after an hour or more of running commentary and muttering from their corner at the back of the hall, they had nothing to say in public comment.]
Carol Srajer, Winchell Road: I echo what Roger Hurd said--that you are independent and I appreciate and value that.
Matt Parsons: No comment.
Steve Zielinski, S.R. 82: I want to wish everyone a happy new year. I look forward to Mr. Festa coming on in January..
Dave Pollard, S.R. 82: I am going to sound like a broken record. Mark, I am going to miss you. After 26 years in the township, you have given more than people who have lived here their whole lives and more than if they live to be 100. In what was acknowledged to be the dirtiest campaign on record, you conducted yourself in an adult manner. I know you and your family took a lot of abuse that I do not think will end soon. As Roger said, you have conduced yourself in an adult manner.
A number of people are looking forward to the next two years for various reasons.
I can elaborate on my bill if you want me to. [Blogger: Dave had mowed the roadsides at Meadow Creek, off Chamberlin Road, and had sent a bill to the fiscal officer indicating the details of the work and the equipment, all as donations. Vic thanked him for the work.]
At 9:18, the board moved to pay the bills.
Subsequently, executive sessions lasted another hour. The camera was packed up at the end of public comment, as usual. Your faithful blogger usually does not stay for the end of meetings that go into executive session, either. The results are available in the official minutes of the meeting, available upon request after they have been presented and approved at the first meeting in January.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Mantua Township Trustees 12-1-11, Public Comment Pt. 2
Barb Herbold, Ladies Cemetery Association President: There has been some some comment about the ruts on the newer part part of the cemetery and I do not know what can be done about it. We have had record rains.
Mark: I asked the guys to get up there as soon as they can without making things worse.
Vic: We have had 42 burials this year alone to this point. We are going to try to clean some of that up this Friday.
Carole Pollard, Allyn Road: I wanted to make a small addendum to my remarks at the last meeting. All my life I have been outspoken about various kinds of abuses I observed. Always as well, when I have spoken, once I look around, I find out that there are people applauding me from the wings, giving me thumbs up, smiling, or thanking me afterwards. I may be the only voice raised. I am not the only person with the feelings, attitudes, values, and indignation that I have expressed. I think it is important to know that. I keep on doing it, but I also understand how difficult it is for many people to come to grips with speaking up, saying the kinds of things that I think need to be said. I understand the nervous toll that it takes, but that is irrelevant. It has to be done. Some things have to be said.
The other thing is that I have some questions that are sort of about zoning and the cemetery, but they deal with finances, so Marie seems like the person to ask.
I was wondering how much money comes in for zoning. I realized it will fluctuate from year to year.
Marie: [This year] $2100 in fees. We are over budget--it has been low for several years. It has been as high as $6,000. We have budgeted $9500 for transfers [from the General Fund] and have used $2,000 of that.
CP: I know this next isn't zoning, but John has done both jobs for so long they're kind of wrapped around each other. What does the cemetery generate every year?
Marie: This year, the budget for the cemetery is $21,000; transfers, $12,000. So far we have received in $17,700 for the cemetery, with almost $12,000 in burials. The cemetery and zoning fund, especially zoning, do not pay for themselves. The General Fund is the only fund we can transfer from, and then we cannot transfer money back. We are this year over budget. [Activity in zoning] has been very low. The transfers are budgeted transfers.
CP: Is John Vechery bonded? Is the person who handles this money bonded? [Note: No.] What does bonding mean or permit?
MS: Bonding is a kind of insurance that the person collecting the money will pass it on to the township.
CP: I was just curious and thought it was something to consider in the future.
Dan Cozzens (sp?): Question about the sound deadening. Is this board on board fencing?
Vic: It is 3/4" thick, 5-1/2" wide, mounted on 8' posts. [Blogger: I think the posts are 8'. It may be that the fencing panels are 8' wide.]
Dan asked about whether there was sound deadening included and why the west side had been left open.
Vic: The cover opens [in such a way] that the west side had to be left open. A full building would have to have a 9' ceiling to accommodate the aerator cover/lid. There is another tank that also needs to be opened. It is open so we can get to the pumps.
DC: What about snow packing in?
Vic: [The fence] will be up above the ground a bit so wind can blow through.
DC: What about the speed limit signs at the Meadows?
Vic: The prosecutor has not gotten back to me. We may have to have the Portage County Engineer do a study. If we have the State come out, the State may have to do a survey. If the State did that, it would probably raise the speed limit on Center Road because of the new paving. (The speed limit is 35mph at present.)
DC: Was there never a speed limit posted on those streets?
Vic: Chris was checking with Scott Miller. It looks as if we still need something from the engineers. Some major changes have been made in the last couple of years about what trustees can do.
DC: One more question about Mantua Center Road. Why are there passing zones? It's kind of dangerous.
Vic: Yes [it's dangerous.] There was not supposed to be a center line painted on the road. But that came about from painting the center line on Coldbrook and Hilldale. When the roads began to crack, the garbage trucks were blamed and then the drainage was supposed to be inadequate. But there was a 12-inch perforated pipe 300 feet long in that area. Then the base was supposed to be inadequate. But everything had been spec'ed and cement stabilized.
Maybe the center line should not be put on because it makes the road look narrow and forces everyone to the edge. That was up to the painting company.
Dan commented on the danger to the workers and kids on the ball fields because there is a passing zone indicated right at the township garage and the ball fields. Apparently the striping/passing zones are indicated by topography and not by anything else.
Jason explained that the paving company thought that the center line would be helpful in case someone went left of center. The striping would make it obvious.
Dan pointed out that the method used did not take into account the activities in the area.
Dave Pollard, 3692 S.R. 82: This is nothing pressing, but I have mentioned it before. Vic and I were out on Old Frost Road on Saturday, and there are two places where a new culvert would be good--100' south of my south property line the water wants to drain off to the west and can't and just sits there.
The other is just about where the road flattens out. The water sits on the Roundup Lake side and sometimes goes ever the road. There was a death on this road in that area [a number of years ago.] The phone line is a problem. Maybe you could get some cooperation from the phone company.
Vic: The phone line is actually under the road by 5'. [Note: not 5' deep, but 5' laterally from where it should be.] I was out on Frost because the township has acquired a freezer that someone had dumped out there and Dave had contacted me about it.
Dave: If the road is widened, the phone line will have to move because the road is not running correctly now. Also, there is one bad chuckhole on that road. I have said this before: I do not have a problem with a gravel road. But the road crew should drop the scarifiers on the scraper at least once a year. That would break up the hardpan and let the scrapings accomplish more [to fill in the low spots.]
Larry Lietzow and Larry Parsons: Nothing.
Matt Parsons: Inquired as to the names of the two newly hired part-time, on-call road crew for snow plowing.
Vic asked, since Matt had inquired previously [I believe] about the condition of Wayne Road, whether he had noticed any difference in it since it was worked on.
Matt: I don't even know why that [Blogger: drainage tile, I believe] was put in.
Vic: There was water in there and that is why the road was breaking up. They found a lot of topsoil there. The problem with many of these roads is that there is no base under them--the roads are sitting on topsoil. That [on Wayne] has been a soft area for years.
Matt: I never had an issue with it.
[Blogger: Well, SOMEBODY did. I need to check on this. Enough complaint was made at a meeting a couple of months ago that I went out to find the yawning chasms on Wayne Road and took photos of the deterioration.]
Mark: I asked the guys to get up there as soon as they can without making things worse.
Vic: We have had 42 burials this year alone to this point. We are going to try to clean some of that up this Friday.
Carole Pollard, Allyn Road: I wanted to make a small addendum to my remarks at the last meeting. All my life I have been outspoken about various kinds of abuses I observed. Always as well, when I have spoken, once I look around, I find out that there are people applauding me from the wings, giving me thumbs up, smiling, or thanking me afterwards. I may be the only voice raised. I am not the only person with the feelings, attitudes, values, and indignation that I have expressed. I think it is important to know that. I keep on doing it, but I also understand how difficult it is for many people to come to grips with speaking up, saying the kinds of things that I think need to be said. I understand the nervous toll that it takes, but that is irrelevant. It has to be done. Some things have to be said.
The other thing is that I have some questions that are sort of about zoning and the cemetery, but they deal with finances, so Marie seems like the person to ask.
I was wondering how much money comes in for zoning. I realized it will fluctuate from year to year.
Marie: [This year] $2100 in fees. We are over budget--it has been low for several years. It has been as high as $6,000. We have budgeted $9500 for transfers [from the General Fund] and have used $2,000 of that.
CP: I know this next isn't zoning, but John has done both jobs for so long they're kind of wrapped around each other. What does the cemetery generate every year?
Marie: This year, the budget for the cemetery is $21,000; transfers, $12,000. So far we have received in $17,700 for the cemetery, with almost $12,000 in burials. The cemetery and zoning fund, especially zoning, do not pay for themselves. The General Fund is the only fund we can transfer from, and then we cannot transfer money back. We are this year over budget. [Activity in zoning] has been very low. The transfers are budgeted transfers.
CP: Is John Vechery bonded? Is the person who handles this money bonded? [Note: No.] What does bonding mean or permit?
MS: Bonding is a kind of insurance that the person collecting the money will pass it on to the township.
CP: I was just curious and thought it was something to consider in the future.
Dan Cozzens (sp?): Question about the sound deadening. Is this board on board fencing?
Vic: It is 3/4" thick, 5-1/2" wide, mounted on 8' posts. [Blogger: I think the posts are 8'. It may be that the fencing panels are 8' wide.]
Dan asked about whether there was sound deadening included and why the west side had been left open.
Vic: The cover opens [in such a way] that the west side had to be left open. A full building would have to have a 9' ceiling to accommodate the aerator cover/lid. There is another tank that also needs to be opened. It is open so we can get to the pumps.
DC: What about snow packing in?
Vic: [The fence] will be up above the ground a bit so wind can blow through.
DC: What about the speed limit signs at the Meadows?
Vic: The prosecutor has not gotten back to me. We may have to have the Portage County Engineer do a study. If we have the State come out, the State may have to do a survey. If the State did that, it would probably raise the speed limit on Center Road because of the new paving. (The speed limit is 35mph at present.)
DC: Was there never a speed limit posted on those streets?
Vic: Chris was checking with Scott Miller. It looks as if we still need something from the engineers. Some major changes have been made in the last couple of years about what trustees can do.
DC: One more question about Mantua Center Road. Why are there passing zones? It's kind of dangerous.
Vic: Yes [it's dangerous.] There was not supposed to be a center line painted on the road. But that came about from painting the center line on Coldbrook and Hilldale. When the roads began to crack, the garbage trucks were blamed and then the drainage was supposed to be inadequate. But there was a 12-inch perforated pipe 300 feet long in that area. Then the base was supposed to be inadequate. But everything had been spec'ed and cement stabilized.
Maybe the center line should not be put on because it makes the road look narrow and forces everyone to the edge. That was up to the painting company.
Dan commented on the danger to the workers and kids on the ball fields because there is a passing zone indicated right at the township garage and the ball fields. Apparently the striping/passing zones are indicated by topography and not by anything else.
Jason explained that the paving company thought that the center line would be helpful in case someone went left of center. The striping would make it obvious.
Dan pointed out that the method used did not take into account the activities in the area.
Dave Pollard, 3692 S.R. 82: This is nothing pressing, but I have mentioned it before. Vic and I were out on Old Frost Road on Saturday, and there are two places where a new culvert would be good--100' south of my south property line the water wants to drain off to the west and can't and just sits there.
The other is just about where the road flattens out. The water sits on the Roundup Lake side and sometimes goes ever the road. There was a death on this road in that area [a number of years ago.] The phone line is a problem. Maybe you could get some cooperation from the phone company.
Vic: The phone line is actually under the road by 5'. [Note: not 5' deep, but 5' laterally from where it should be.] I was out on Frost because the township has acquired a freezer that someone had dumped out there and Dave had contacted me about it.
Dave: If the road is widened, the phone line will have to move because the road is not running correctly now. Also, there is one bad chuckhole on that road. I have said this before: I do not have a problem with a gravel road. But the road crew should drop the scarifiers on the scraper at least once a year. That would break up the hardpan and let the scrapings accomplish more [to fill in the low spots.]
Larry Lietzow and Larry Parsons: Nothing.
Matt Parsons: Inquired as to the names of the two newly hired part-time, on-call road crew for snow plowing.
Vic asked, since Matt had inquired previously [I believe] about the condition of Wayne Road, whether he had noticed any difference in it since it was worked on.
Matt: I don't even know why that [Blogger: drainage tile, I believe] was put in.
Vic: There was water in there and that is why the road was breaking up. They found a lot of topsoil there. The problem with many of these roads is that there is no base under them--the roads are sitting on topsoil. That [on Wayne] has been a soft area for years.
Matt: I never had an issue with it.
[Blogger: Well, SOMEBODY did. I need to check on this. Enough complaint was made at a meeting a couple of months ago that I went out to find the yawning chasms on Wayne Road and took photos of the deterioration.]
Monday, December 5, 2011
Public Comment, Mantua Township Trustees, 12-1-11
Carol Srajer, Winchell Road: I would just like to thank you, Mark, for your service to the township and to tell you that you are going to be missed and I hope that we do not lose your presence at these meetings.
Robert Moody, Mantua Center Road: I also wanted to thank you for starting to do something about the aerator noise. My question is are you going to surround it.
Mark: It will be enclosed on the north, south, and east sides.
RM: My second question is whether the panels are like picket [fence] or solid.
Vic: They are solid--6' high, 8' long and [fitted] tight, not like alternating. [The boards are] 5" wide and mounted on 2 x 4's. [Note: earlier, Mark had reported that the trustees had begun to install the fence, and had set posts in concrete as the first step.] Vic continued: We will give that a try. This week has been tough to get something done.
RM: Again I thank you for starting on it.
Vic: Right now I am involved in a class (continuing ed) on aeration.
RM: Asked about possibly shutting it down [I assume because the building is not in use at present].
Vic replied that shutting the aerator down for any length of time lets everything settle and solidify, and then it is necessary to use special equipment to get everything broken up and workable again.
RM: Last year it was down from about Thanksgiving until March.
Vic replied that it takes very little to trip the electricity [the breaker?] and shut down the aerator.
Phil Derthick, 5182 S.R. 82: Thanks, Mark, for your service not only here but on the zoning board before you came here. We missed you there and I know we will miss you here.
Robert Moody, Mantua Center Road: I also wanted to thank you for starting to do something about the aerator noise. My question is are you going to surround it.
Mark: It will be enclosed on the north, south, and east sides.
RM: My second question is whether the panels are like picket [fence] or solid.
Vic: They are solid--6' high, 8' long and [fitted] tight, not like alternating. [The boards are] 5" wide and mounted on 2 x 4's. [Note: earlier, Mark had reported that the trustees had begun to install the fence, and had set posts in concrete as the first step.] Vic continued: We will give that a try. This week has been tough to get something done.
RM: Again I thank you for starting on it.
Vic: Right now I am involved in a class (continuing ed) on aeration.
RM: Asked about possibly shutting it down [I assume because the building is not in use at present].
Vic replied that shutting the aerator down for any length of time lets everything settle and solidify, and then it is necessary to use special equipment to get everything broken up and workable again.
RM: Last year it was down from about Thanksgiving until March.
Vic replied that it takes very little to trip the electricity [the breaker?] and shut down the aerator.
Phil Derthick, 5182 S.R. 82: Thanks, Mark, for your service not only here but on the zoning board before you came here. We missed you there and I know we will miss you here.
Limerick 12-4-11
They talked about the "Old Boys' Net"
But folks, "we ain't seen nothin' yet."
Pockets deep will never fill
But we'll be stuck with all the bill
And down that path we now are set.
But folks, "we ain't seen nothin' yet."
Pockets deep will never fill
But we'll be stuck with all the bill
And down that path we now are set.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
A Previous Post Reviewed
At the November 3, 2011, Mantua Township Trustees meeting, Robert Moody stated that his remarks on August 18, 2011, had been quoted out of context on a local blog--obviously, this one.
This is what is in the blog post:
"I am not upset about the school or the money you spent on the school."
I have listened to a recording of the August 18 meeting. Unless my ears have failed me, this is what Mr. Moody said: "It has nothing to do with the school . . . . It has nothing to do with the money you spent on the school. It has nothing to do with the school."
The phrasing in the August 18 post reflects my belief at the time that Mr. Moody was separating himself from the many criticisms of the school. Using quotation marks constitutes a misattribution, which this post has endeavored to rectify.
This is what is in the blog post:
"I am not upset about the school or the money you spent on the school."
I have listened to a recording of the August 18 meeting. Unless my ears have failed me, this is what Mr. Moody said: "It has nothing to do with the school . . . . It has nothing to do with the money you spent on the school. It has nothing to do with the school."
The phrasing in the August 18 post reflects my belief at the time that Mr. Moody was separating himself from the many criticisms of the school. Using quotation marks constitutes a misattribution, which this post has endeavored to rectify.
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