Next, John Festa commented on insurance and possibly teaming up with Shalersville. [He said something about the Fire Board's insurance that I marked with a question mark, and so I am not going to try to put anything more in about it. I am going to assume that we will hear more about that at the next meeting.]
Jason has informed Mike Collins, Portage Co. Engineer's office, that our chip and seal roads are done. We need to send a letter requesting striping and School Zone painting. The letter is necessary for the engineer's office to begin the work.
John Festa wondered why there was no photo of the veterans' memorial on the fair board. [Blogger: Clearly, as usual, it is up to someone else to do this. Trustee Festa neither offered to take a picture nor provided one.]
Sue Skrovan replied: I usually put pictures of all the parks on. Jason and John Festa thought it looked nice, and Vic pointed out that they were looking at last year's board.
There was some discussion about the logo for the township, about putting it into a format that would not pixilate when it is enlarged. John Festa wants to make decals to put on the truck.
New Business
Vic: I got the agreement to Mr. May [the lawyer for the owner of the property adjacent to the bull pen]. Mrs. Taylor has been there a couple of times. As it stands right now, they have from the barn to the outside of the driveway: 16'2". The Mack can be backed in and pulled in. I think in the agreement we have to clarify who is going to maintain that for snow plowing. We just need access for [? Missed that last word.]
John Festa: Everybody in this room has to clear their drive. We just gotta be careful.
Jason: They have to understand that in the winter they are going to be using it more than we are and in the winter the priority is not going to be to do that at 5 a.m.
John Festa objected: If you do it for one, you have to do it for everyone.
[Blogger: That statement, made by anyone, raises my ire. But let me just address this little hummer. The driveway at the bullpen is unique--not like every other driveway in the township. I realize that there are boneheads who might insist on special treatment because they might trot out that lame argument, but unless they have the same property issue, they have no basis for the request.
Along the same lines, at a previous meeting, trustee Festa used Mark Kramer as an example: If he wanted to cut across the ball fields to get to his house, we would have to provide a drive for him. That is so much drivel.]
There was some discussion about all of that, and more explanation from Vic.
Vic, moving on: I have a verbal agreement with Mr. Keller about the property line. We push the snow up and it ends up on his property. There is a catch basin there. We will clean it up and plant grass there and take care of it.
The other part of the survey for School Lane should be done tomorrow.
Jason: I talked to Mr. Goggin. He wanted to go to the county and sort things out. He had been told by the county that he owned School Lane. That has been straightened out and he is going to take down the signs he put up. It was a cordial conversation and he spent several hours talking to the lady at the tax office.
Kathy Kelley: He has taken the signs down. When was that conversation?
Jason: The Monday following our last trustees meeting.
Kathy: That is about when he took the signs down.
John Festa: Have they changed the boundaries on the map?
Vic: We will have the final word for the surveying and I will follow up on that. I still have to follow up on the little shelter there. The story I heard was that the school made them put that up.
Kathy: I talked to someone who is in the process of getting all the paper work together for a survey on School Lane.
Vic had talked with someone who said it would be done by Friday.
Vic: Monday I got a call to let the elevator man in. He was supposed to be in this Friday. The pad is being poured and a few things have to be removed. All of the electricians stuff is hooked up and ready to go.
John Festa: The elevator company takes everything from the disconnect.
Vic: When the elevator company shows up the electricians want to talk to them They want to bring the cylinders in at the front right on the pad.
It is started.
John Festa: What did they give you--5 weeks?
Vic: Yes. Then the general needs another week.
John Festa said something about risk insurance.
Jason: Please review what Jay Schabel [lead person on the task force for the school as a community center] sent, and I will send all of our thoughts and ideas and we can decide whether to send it to Chris Meduri to review or whether we want [Jay] to come to a meeting.
Public Comment came next. This is a good place to end this post.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Trustees 8-17-17: A new mower; more on bullpen, just a little.
[Blogger: It is Friday, August 25 as I keyboard this introductory section. This post has now been proofread and tidied up for spelling and punctuation. We have purchased--well, had our bid accepted--on the mower that is mentioned later in the post.
[Also, I have talked with Lynn Harvey, treasurer of The Mantua Restoration Society, Inc., and she has written out a check for the restoration society's share of the work that Vic described towards the end of this post.]
After the minutes of two previous meetings were reviewed and approved, a plat map from Regional Planning was discussed regarding a land split for a lot on Center Road.
When the financials were reviewed, Jason said, I didn't see that anything for road and bridge had been appropriated. [Blogger: Although this looks like a direct quote, which would get quotation marks around it, my notes are very close but not necessarily verbatim. I am not going to appear to quote someone if my notes were actually a close paraphrase.]
Jodie: It had not been.
Jason: [Let's] move some money around.
Vic: Take it out of the road levy.
Vic to Jodie: Page 1 of the revenue status. [He quoted the sections and pages.] Tax allocation: final budget [shows] $17,400. It shows that nothing has come in. That would be checks from John Eklund['s office]. There was another place also.
Vic, continuing: We should be receiving our second payment pretty soon.
[Blogger: It would probably be edifying to keep track of these kinds of exchanges and discussions about the money that comes in or is supposed to come in and how it is being handled.]
Jason: Speaking of the road levy--how many more years do we have on our ?? [Blogger: I missed that word.] It has to be voted on next year? One of the levies is set to expire . . . .I can't remember how long we have had it on. That was a replacement. We should look at it again. I want to stay on top of it. [Blogger: The renewal means having continual funds.]
Jason to John Festa: The lien searches have come back. I did not print them all off because one was 31 pages. When we fill out this paper work which is from the Mantua Township Trustees, [it is] notice to proceed. This has to be sent to every lien holder listed. For one of these there are five lien holders as well as the owner. It has to be sent certified. [Blogger: These are both properties in Aurora Meadows, which can be dealt with under the Land Bank program.]
Jason will contact Chris Meduri before sending certified letters.
Vic: There is one more financial. To Jodie: Did you get the bill from Lisa Reeves [Regional Planning] for Kozma Electric? That just came in today also. That is where it is split up between MaRSI, the grant, and the township. The grant will pay the biggest portion: $13,400. MaRSI is picking up $2770, and $1,080 the township.
Club and Committee reports were next.
Garden Club, Sue Skrovan: We will have a meeting at the township hall on September 20 at 7:30p.m. We are trying to line up a bee keeper. The meeting is open to everyone. The Garden Club was very happy to see that the contractor did not destroy the flowers at the Civic Center [while the steps and ramp were being repaired.] We are happy they finished the steps without damage to the bed--the flowers looked very nice this year. Sue thanked the road crew for keeping everything watered.
LCA, Amy Janca: Amy made a side comment to Sue: You might have someone look at the pot on the pole in the corner of the bull pen. It looks like one of the support wires may be disconnected--it is hanging a little askew. I noticed it today while we were working at the flagpole.
[Blogger: The flower baskets on the poles are provided by the Mantua Shalersville Chamber of Commerce, and the road crew, as Sue indicated, waters them. The Garden Club has nothing to do with them. But look at Amy's final statement. That's what her comment is really about, because the LCA had nothing to report. The whole statement also made it sound to me as if Amy was asserting some kind of authority over the Garden Club. Isn't it enough that she has played a role in obliterating years of work by the Garden Club in the bull pen?]
The Mantua Restoration Society, Inc.: Carole Pollard reported. We are planning an elevator party. We have gotten a grant through Regional Planning for the Celebrate Portage program to put on the party, and we are hoping that the window for the grant does not close before we can use it. Publicity is going to have to be a real blitz, because we don't know yet when the elevator will be ready to use.
Also, the next event we will be doing is the food tent at Derthick's Corn Maze. That will be from the next to last weekend in September through October. Dave and Susan Pollard and Mark Hall stand out in the wind on Derthick's Hill and have good home cooked food on a donation basis. They are helped by a crew they have gathered, and people have begun coming back saying that they were looking forward to MaRSI's food.
[Blogger: I have not gotten the recording yet, so the MaRSI report is partly from memory and partly kind of an ad. Whether I said all of that in the meeting, it is intended to inform everyone accurately and fully.]
Road Crew, Brian Tayerle: Chip and seal roads were completed on Tuesday. They finished brooming off the excess stone yesterday. They did an excellent job as usual.
Two weeks ago Vic dropped a paper on my desk about a new mower in Madison Township.
Vic: As Brian said, we went up Monday. They started it up and Brian and Dan drove it. They did a demonstration of it also.. The mowing arm was actually built for that tractor. It is listed as a 2008. Our tractor is a 1979.
They are asking $60,000. Chris Meduri said we are OK on it and can use road and bridge funds to pay for it.
They want to get rid of it to get a smaller tractor [better suited to the sizes of their roads.]
Jason commented on the specifications and the similarity to a tractor used on the Carlton farm which has been a good tractor.
Brian: A brand new Holland similar to this--a berm mower and hydraulic system--is $53,000, and that is not the tractor--just the equipment.
There was more comment and discussion, and Vic gave the other trustees a paper with the bid that he thought was acceptable. Jason suggested $1,000 less.
Vic made a motion to make a sealed bid to Madison Township for a Massey Ferguson tractor and added the details to make the motion clear and specific enough. The amount was kept completely confidential.
[Blogger: In my notes, I made this observation: Vic did a hands-on evaluation and included the road crew, who will be the people working and living with this piece of equipment. Jason reviewed the specifications.]
Vic commented about Brian and Dan working on the bullpen.
Amy Janca came in on that and said she appreciated the help. [Blogger: To me, it looked, given that they were using the backhoe with the bucket, plus the township dump truck, as if they were doing the work, not just helping.]
Vic: There is still some more to do on the flagpole.
Amy: No--it is done. It looks white but as it is used [and rained on, washing off the dust], it will take on a more blue appearance.
Frank Horack and I laid paving stone to make a nice little path to the flagpole. Because it is raised we will either have to build that up, the soil, because of the elevation . . . .
Vic: That is all that needs to be done for the flagpole?
Amy: I will bring up to the committee to dress it up a bit, that we install a couple of pots like we have on the green with some colorful flowers.
Amy commented further on what still needs to be done.
Vic: There is a lot of debris that is in that/there. The main thing I want to see is the flagpole area so we can get some grass there. I want to see if someone will donate time with a rockhound because there is a lot of stones. I want to get some grass in there.
Blogger: This is a logical place to stop, because the discussion went to something completely different. However, the discussion about the bullpen continued in Public Comment.
Three flower pots have been purchased, placed at the flagpole, and appear to have flowers in them. I say "appear" because the flowers are not real.
The next post will cover everything but public comment.
`
[Also, I have talked with Lynn Harvey, treasurer of The Mantua Restoration Society, Inc., and she has written out a check for the restoration society's share of the work that Vic described towards the end of this post.]
After the minutes of two previous meetings were reviewed and approved, a plat map from Regional Planning was discussed regarding a land split for a lot on Center Road.
When the financials were reviewed, Jason said, I didn't see that anything for road and bridge had been appropriated. [Blogger: Although this looks like a direct quote, which would get quotation marks around it, my notes are very close but not necessarily verbatim. I am not going to appear to quote someone if my notes were actually a close paraphrase.]
Jodie: It had not been.
Jason: [Let's] move some money around.
Vic: Take it out of the road levy.
Vic to Jodie: Page 1 of the revenue status. [He quoted the sections and pages.] Tax allocation: final budget [shows] $17,400. It shows that nothing has come in. That would be checks from John Eklund['s office]. There was another place also.
Vic, continuing: We should be receiving our second payment pretty soon.
[Blogger: It would probably be edifying to keep track of these kinds of exchanges and discussions about the money that comes in or is supposed to come in and how it is being handled.]
Jason: Speaking of the road levy--how many more years do we have on our ?? [Blogger: I missed that word.] It has to be voted on next year? One of the levies is set to expire . . . .I can't remember how long we have had it on. That was a replacement. We should look at it again. I want to stay on top of it. [Blogger: The renewal means having continual funds.]
Jason to John Festa: The lien searches have come back. I did not print them all off because one was 31 pages. When we fill out this paper work which is from the Mantua Township Trustees, [it is] notice to proceed. This has to be sent to every lien holder listed. For one of these there are five lien holders as well as the owner. It has to be sent certified. [Blogger: These are both properties in Aurora Meadows, which can be dealt with under the Land Bank program.]
Jason will contact Chris Meduri before sending certified letters.
Vic: There is one more financial. To Jodie: Did you get the bill from Lisa Reeves [Regional Planning] for Kozma Electric? That just came in today also. That is where it is split up between MaRSI, the grant, and the township. The grant will pay the biggest portion: $13,400. MaRSI is picking up $2770, and $1,080 the township.
Club and Committee reports were next.
Garden Club, Sue Skrovan: We will have a meeting at the township hall on September 20 at 7:30p.m. We are trying to line up a bee keeper. The meeting is open to everyone. The Garden Club was very happy to see that the contractor did not destroy the flowers at the Civic Center [while the steps and ramp were being repaired.] We are happy they finished the steps without damage to the bed--the flowers looked very nice this year. Sue thanked the road crew for keeping everything watered.
LCA, Amy Janca: Amy made a side comment to Sue: You might have someone look at the pot on the pole in the corner of the bull pen. It looks like one of the support wires may be disconnected--it is hanging a little askew. I noticed it today while we were working at the flagpole.
[Blogger: The flower baskets on the poles are provided by the Mantua Shalersville Chamber of Commerce, and the road crew, as Sue indicated, waters them. The Garden Club has nothing to do with them. But look at Amy's final statement. That's what her comment is really about, because the LCA had nothing to report. The whole statement also made it sound to me as if Amy was asserting some kind of authority over the Garden Club. Isn't it enough that she has played a role in obliterating years of work by the Garden Club in the bull pen?]
The Mantua Restoration Society, Inc.: Carole Pollard reported. We are planning an elevator party. We have gotten a grant through Regional Planning for the Celebrate Portage program to put on the party, and we are hoping that the window for the grant does not close before we can use it. Publicity is going to have to be a real blitz, because we don't know yet when the elevator will be ready to use.
Also, the next event we will be doing is the food tent at Derthick's Corn Maze. That will be from the next to last weekend in September through October. Dave and Susan Pollard and Mark Hall stand out in the wind on Derthick's Hill and have good home cooked food on a donation basis. They are helped by a crew they have gathered, and people have begun coming back saying that they were looking forward to MaRSI's food.
[Blogger: I have not gotten the recording yet, so the MaRSI report is partly from memory and partly kind of an ad. Whether I said all of that in the meeting, it is intended to inform everyone accurately and fully.]
Road Crew, Brian Tayerle: Chip and seal roads were completed on Tuesday. They finished brooming off the excess stone yesterday. They did an excellent job as usual.
Two weeks ago Vic dropped a paper on my desk about a new mower in Madison Township.
Vic: As Brian said, we went up Monday. They started it up and Brian and Dan drove it. They did a demonstration of it also.. The mowing arm was actually built for that tractor. It is listed as a 2008. Our tractor is a 1979.
They are asking $60,000. Chris Meduri said we are OK on it and can use road and bridge funds to pay for it.
They want to get rid of it to get a smaller tractor [better suited to the sizes of their roads.]
Jason commented on the specifications and the similarity to a tractor used on the Carlton farm which has been a good tractor.
Brian: A brand new Holland similar to this--a berm mower and hydraulic system--is $53,000, and that is not the tractor--just the equipment.
There was more comment and discussion, and Vic gave the other trustees a paper with the bid that he thought was acceptable. Jason suggested $1,000 less.
Vic made a motion to make a sealed bid to Madison Township for a Massey Ferguson tractor and added the details to make the motion clear and specific enough. The amount was kept completely confidential.
[Blogger: In my notes, I made this observation: Vic did a hands-on evaluation and included the road crew, who will be the people working and living with this piece of equipment. Jason reviewed the specifications.]
Vic commented about Brian and Dan working on the bullpen.
Amy Janca came in on that and said she appreciated the help. [Blogger: To me, it looked, given that they were using the backhoe with the bucket, plus the township dump truck, as if they were doing the work, not just helping.]
Vic: There is still some more to do on the flagpole.
Amy: No--it is done. It looks white but as it is used [and rained on, washing off the dust], it will take on a more blue appearance.
Frank Horack and I laid paving stone to make a nice little path to the flagpole. Because it is raised we will either have to build that up, the soil, because of the elevation . . . .
Vic: That is all that needs to be done for the flagpole?
Amy: I will bring up to the committee to dress it up a bit, that we install a couple of pots like we have on the green with some colorful flowers.
Amy commented further on what still needs to be done.
Vic: There is a lot of debris that is in that/there. The main thing I want to see is the flagpole area so we can get some grass there. I want to see if someone will donate time with a rockhound because there is a lot of stones. I want to get some grass in there.
Blogger: This is a logical place to stop, because the discussion went to something completely different. However, the discussion about the bullpen continued in Public Comment.
Three flower pots have been purchased, placed at the flagpole, and appear to have flowers in them. I say "appear" because the flowers are not real.
The next post will cover everything but public comment.
`
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Who Really Cares For the Township?
It's Sunday morning, August 20, 2017.
Yesterday I spent several hours with Sue Skrovan doing the township's Fair Board for the Portage County Fair. For 51 weeks of the year, the board "lives" in the township hall, where anyone who attends a meeting can see it. For one week, it is in the Township Tent at the fair, along with those from most of the other townships in the county. Trustees and other township representatives put in a shift at the tent, usually. Vic always does on behalf of Mantua Township; not all throughout the county do.
For as long as I can remember, Sue has not only chosen and arranged the photographs on the board to show what the township has done during the past year, but she has also taken many to most of them. Vic has in the past taken some that show up on the board as well. He also made the large "sandwich board" that holds the heavy, framed and glassed shadow box for the display.
Yesterday we looked at the year's photos, took a few more, and then made up the new board. Sue is the brains in that; I cleaned the glass for the display board and then put photos on it as Sue designated.
It takes two people to move the board; Vic came by, and he and Sue did that so we could work on it. Then he went off to check on the work that had been done over at the school: the pad for the elevator had been poured, and so had the sidewalk to the entrance/lobby for the elevator.
A couple of things came to light when Vic did that--remember, this was a Saturday, and the job of trustee is defined by the State as "part time." I didn't ask what he did to remedy what he discovered. Part of it was that some work had been done which would have been better after the elevator cab had been delivered, an operation requiring heavy equipment and steel plating like we all see when some kinds of road work are being done. Vic has the plates.
Also, the building may have been left open, unless the crew was coming back after having had lunch.
So what's the point of this? The elevator is a major project, a major change for the building, and one involving many safety and security issues. Things and records are in that building that must be preserved and protected.
The fair board represents us to the rest of the county and whoever else comes to the fair.
At the August 17 meeting, John Festa commented that there were no photos of the veterans' memorial on the board. No offer to take any photos, or--something that would have been an interested, pro-active thing to do--no photos that he had taken to contribute to the board, and thus to the image the township presents in the county.
Nothing from Jason about either the fair board or the school, if I remember correctly.
Nope. But quietly and without fanfare, Vic and Sue took care of it. I'm not sure who will take the board to Randolph. The road crew has done it sometimes that I remember.
Here is my point: Forget about fine sounding sentiments at the meetings, which are on camera. Who is out there actually doing things that support the township, the things that everyone takes for granted?
Doing things--not just paperwork.
Vic and Sue.
And Vic does the paperwork, too. An example will show up in the blog for the August 17 meeting.
So, dear readers, think about the unseen things, easily taken for granted, that keep the township not just functioning, but living. Think about who does those things. And who just gives orders that they should be done.
Yesterday I spent several hours with Sue Skrovan doing the township's Fair Board for the Portage County Fair. For 51 weeks of the year, the board "lives" in the township hall, where anyone who attends a meeting can see it. For one week, it is in the Township Tent at the fair, along with those from most of the other townships in the county. Trustees and other township representatives put in a shift at the tent, usually. Vic always does on behalf of Mantua Township; not all throughout the county do.
For as long as I can remember, Sue has not only chosen and arranged the photographs on the board to show what the township has done during the past year, but she has also taken many to most of them. Vic has in the past taken some that show up on the board as well. He also made the large "sandwich board" that holds the heavy, framed and glassed shadow box for the display.
Yesterday we looked at the year's photos, took a few more, and then made up the new board. Sue is the brains in that; I cleaned the glass for the display board and then put photos on it as Sue designated.
It takes two people to move the board; Vic came by, and he and Sue did that so we could work on it. Then he went off to check on the work that had been done over at the school: the pad for the elevator had been poured, and so had the sidewalk to the entrance/lobby for the elevator.
A couple of things came to light when Vic did that--remember, this was a Saturday, and the job of trustee is defined by the State as "part time." I didn't ask what he did to remedy what he discovered. Part of it was that some work had been done which would have been better after the elevator cab had been delivered, an operation requiring heavy equipment and steel plating like we all see when some kinds of road work are being done. Vic has the plates.
Also, the building may have been left open, unless the crew was coming back after having had lunch.
So what's the point of this? The elevator is a major project, a major change for the building, and one involving many safety and security issues. Things and records are in that building that must be preserved and protected.
The fair board represents us to the rest of the county and whoever else comes to the fair.
At the August 17 meeting, John Festa commented that there were no photos of the veterans' memorial on the board. No offer to take any photos, or--something that would have been an interested, pro-active thing to do--no photos that he had taken to contribute to the board, and thus to the image the township presents in the county.
Nothing from Jason about either the fair board or the school, if I remember correctly.
Nope. But quietly and without fanfare, Vic and Sue took care of it. I'm not sure who will take the board to Randolph. The road crew has done it sometimes that I remember.
Here is my point: Forget about fine sounding sentiments at the meetings, which are on camera. Who is out there actually doing things that support the township, the things that everyone takes for granted?
Doing things--not just paperwork.
Vic and Sue.
And Vic does the paperwork, too. An example will show up in the blog for the August 17 meeting.
So, dear readers, think about the unseen things, easily taken for granted, that keep the township not just functioning, but living. Think about who does those things. And who just gives orders that they should be done.
Monday, August 14, 2017
Blogger: My Public Comment and My Turn 8-3-17
Blogger Foreword: Once you have read this whole post, you will see why I lifted my comments out to treat separately.
Carole Pollard, Allyn Road: As Frank so elegantly [NOT] referred to my blog, he doesn't have a computer, so apparently none of his friends told him that there was a correction printed in the blog. I am not going to send him an engraved notice about that, but it was done.
[Side bar: Also, since Frank does not have a computer, someone told him about the post that he took issue with. It isn't clear whether he actually read it or just took someone's word as to what it said. I re-read that post while I worked on this one. It was done while the meetings were still being graced by Dawn Pechman, and it was Dawn who used the term "bootleg" to refer to an electrical hookup. In that post, I specifically stated that her use of "bootleg" was inaccurate.]
[For your information, the incident/post that involved Frank was written on May 13, 2014. It is titled May 2 Trustees: Pointed Public Comment. The clarification was posted on June 5, 2014, and is titled Public Comment Pt. 2; Frank Horack. The post contains not just a clarification, but an apology.]
My comment, continuing: As far as the cost of the legal fees for the lawyer [regarding zoning issues], that was a hypothetical. I was trying to make a point about the time and attention that has been eaten up by zoning issues.
[That concludes my public comment. I thought I had included a statement about aggressive approaches to zoning, but I did not hear it on the recording.]
************************************
And now for my turn.
What follows, for those who take quick offense, is my exercise of my First Amendment rights--as I have done in the blog on various occasions.
This time, I am doing so in direct response to Frank Horack's exercise of his freedom of speech by referring to me in scatological language. Check his remarks in his report on his role in the "beautification" of the bull pen in the first post for 8-3-17.
As I approached retirement in 2000, I realized that the only place I wanted to be was here--back home. When every house I looked at was lacking in some way or wasn't in the township, building became the option. And I wanted local contractors, people I had gone to school with or guys Dave knew and respected, to build it.
I wanted Frank Horack to do the electrical work. My architect upon looking at the bids and estimates for everything gently said that Frank's estimate seemed high. No matter--I wanted Frank to do the work (and at that time didn't know anyone else to call). So Frank and his son did the work, and I paid for it promptly and without question.
Please remember that point.
The next time I remember seeing Frank was when Jason had a walk-through of the school that was open to all. I was standing in the hallway outside one of the classrooms along with a group of people, and looked around to see Frank looking at me with an expression I can only describe as a sneer, while a woman in the group made mocking faces at me.
I was baffled.
Since then, Frank and I have clearly been on opposite sides about the school building. That's OK. What isn't OK is what I have heard Frank say in various meetings, either to or about people or about issues, even the facts. I will not detail any of that unless Frank invites me to.
Let's just say that, by his own words, Frank has shown me a far different person than I thought him to be in 2000 when he was the only person I wanted to do the electrical work for my new house.
That was then. This is now.
***********************************************
And this is a word for Frank's "friends" who do have computers. If you think maybe you can encourage Frank to ramp up his language, or, even, with litigation being the favorite resort of the determinedly hostile, to try to take me to court, remember two things:
First, I have been exceedingly restrained in this post. Saying all I have seen, heard first hand, and taken notes on would be highly embarrassing--and not to me.
Second, if Frank is so incensed as to consider getting a lawyer, it's been tried before. The truth is an absolute defense, and I don't make things up. I don't have to.
In other words, stuff it.
Carole Pollard, Allyn Road: As Frank so elegantly [NOT] referred to my blog, he doesn't have a computer, so apparently none of his friends told him that there was a correction printed in the blog. I am not going to send him an engraved notice about that, but it was done.
[Side bar: Also, since Frank does not have a computer, someone told him about the post that he took issue with. It isn't clear whether he actually read it or just took someone's word as to what it said. I re-read that post while I worked on this one. It was done while the meetings were still being graced by Dawn Pechman, and it was Dawn who used the term "bootleg" to refer to an electrical hookup. In that post, I specifically stated that her use of "bootleg" was inaccurate.]
[For your information, the incident/post that involved Frank was written on May 13, 2014. It is titled May 2 Trustees: Pointed Public Comment. The clarification was posted on June 5, 2014, and is titled Public Comment Pt. 2; Frank Horack. The post contains not just a clarification, but an apology.]
My comment, continuing: As far as the cost of the legal fees for the lawyer [regarding zoning issues], that was a hypothetical. I was trying to make a point about the time and attention that has been eaten up by zoning issues.
[That concludes my public comment. I thought I had included a statement about aggressive approaches to zoning, but I did not hear it on the recording.]
************************************
And now for my turn.
What follows, for those who take quick offense, is my exercise of my First Amendment rights--as I have done in the blog on various occasions.
This time, I am doing so in direct response to Frank Horack's exercise of his freedom of speech by referring to me in scatological language. Check his remarks in his report on his role in the "beautification" of the bull pen in the first post for 8-3-17.
As I approached retirement in 2000, I realized that the only place I wanted to be was here--back home. When every house I looked at was lacking in some way or wasn't in the township, building became the option. And I wanted local contractors, people I had gone to school with or guys Dave knew and respected, to build it.
I wanted Frank Horack to do the electrical work. My architect upon looking at the bids and estimates for everything gently said that Frank's estimate seemed high. No matter--I wanted Frank to do the work (and at that time didn't know anyone else to call). So Frank and his son did the work, and I paid for it promptly and without question.
Please remember that point.
The next time I remember seeing Frank was when Jason had a walk-through of the school that was open to all. I was standing in the hallway outside one of the classrooms along with a group of people, and looked around to see Frank looking at me with an expression I can only describe as a sneer, while a woman in the group made mocking faces at me.
I was baffled.
Since then, Frank and I have clearly been on opposite sides about the school building. That's OK. What isn't OK is what I have heard Frank say in various meetings, either to or about people or about issues, even the facts. I will not detail any of that unless Frank invites me to.
Let's just say that, by his own words, Frank has shown me a far different person than I thought him to be in 2000 when he was the only person I wanted to do the electrical work for my new house.
That was then. This is now.
***********************************************
And this is a word for Frank's "friends" who do have computers. If you think maybe you can encourage Frank to ramp up his language, or, even, with litigation being the favorite resort of the determinedly hostile, to try to take me to court, remember two things:
First, I have been exceedingly restrained in this post. Saying all I have seen, heard first hand, and taken notes on would be highly embarrassing--and not to me.
Second, if Frank is so incensed as to consider getting a lawyer, it's been tried before. The truth is an absolute defense, and I don't make things up. I don't have to.
In other words, stuff it.
Sunday, August 13, 2017
8-3-17 Trustees: wrap up business, most of Public Comment
Jason: Any additional old business?
John Festa: I am still trying to reach out to Time Warner.
One more thing--There was a question last week about attorney's fees and cost to the township. The Ohio Revised Code provides that the prosecuting attorney will be the attorney for every township. Also, being on other boards,m such as the fire board and airport authority, the prosecutor's office charges $5,000 per year retainer. That covers whatever the prosecutor's office does. So the answer to the question is $5,000. [Blogger: This will be addressed further in the last part of Public Comment.
One more--I have not heard from the task force.
Vic: They had a meeting Tuesday night in the gymnasium. I haven't heard anything that came from that. Ken Parker called and asked if it was OK. Apparently everything went OK.
John Festa: I wanted to make sure we didn't lose track of that. Also, the Blackbrook Conservancy asked if they could use the township hall for their meeting.
[Sue Lilley (sp?) is an officer or the new president of the group and was at the meeting. She confirmed that the date of the meeting was August 15 at 7 p.m.]
Vic: It should be all right.
Continuing, to Jodie: I have another question. Have you received any money from HB 49, local government funds? It will be distributed to the county and then to the township. It is extra payments to the townships. This came up at the meeting the other night we had for the distribution of it. The way I understand it, it would come from the county commissioners to the township. It was supposed to start July 1. It is supposed to be $1,000,000 each month to the townships and then $10,000,000 for the calendar year. Some small villages would qualify also. My understanding is that Hiram has received some. There is a couple of different government funds. If you find out anything. . . . Keep your eyes open.
[Jason asked where Vic got that, but I missed the answer. He added a bit more about how it was supposed to work. He also referred to a report through the OTA, and Jason suggested calling the association.]
Public Comment
Sue Lilley: [Blogger: With all respect to Ms. Lilley, I am not going to give a transcript of the conversation she had with the trustees, but I will summarize it and hit what I think are the high points.]
She began by checking with the trustees about a letter dating from 1986 to the trustees referring to the ditches. Apparently every time the trustees or the officers of the Blackbrook Conservancy change, the trustees receive the letter.
Traffic on Center Road (called Blackbrook Road at one time) was very heavy and fast before the bridge was closed, and a lot of debris ends up in the bottom of the ditches. Also, recently one of the culverts was destroyed in order to protect one of the residents from being flood. Sue asked who is actually responsible for cleaning the ditches and keeping the water down.
Jason answered: The township is responsible for cleaning the ditches, and that from the trustees' point of view the ditches are there for the roads--to keep the water off the roads, not for any other reason.
Sue asked if the trustees knew that the water goes over the road.
Vic: Yes. My understanding is that $4.00 per acre per year goes to Janet Esposito (county auditor). Our main purpose of maintaining the road is to maintain the road and the berm, but not the ditches
One of the concerns Ms. Lilley had is that Blackbrook takes in all the water down to the Chagrin River, and every time a development is put in, that area gets more water, even though it is only about 500 acres.
She asked the trustees to clean the ditches.
Vic: The biggest problem is that you are legally a subdivision and so are we.
Sue: But it is your road.
There was some discussion about the damage to the berm.
Vic pointed out that even if gravel was taken out of the ditches, since it is not packed on the berm, it will end up in the ditches again.
There was discussion about how an ambulance would get in, considering that the water goes over the road.
Jason said that there are 5-6 places in the township where that happens, and that the rains have been heavier for the last several years. The township is trying to do the best we can to rectify things.
He and Vic both voiced willingness to help as and wherever possible
Jason asked to see a copy of the conservancy's by-laws.
Vic: We have always been willing to help, but we have to watch the legal liability of working with another subdivision. All I have [in the way of records and information] is when it was incorporated in 1942.
Dave Pollard: Vic, didn't something like this come up earlier in your tenure?
Vic: There used to be a CETA program but no longer. They would come out and clean the ditches and haul brush.
To Sue Lilley: I will talk to the guys on Monday. Because of the rain they can't get in there, to the bottom.
Bill Kelley: I'm done.
Larry Leitzow: No comment.
Amy Janca: I wanted to thank the entire group of trustees. I realize this whole issue with the bull pen has been more involved than any of us expected.
[Blogger: Well, dear reader, if you have followed the saga of the bull pen, you may just have come to the conclusion that true due diligence at the very beginning would have made a very large difference in the story and the outcome. And maybe even the appearance of the area.]
Jan Oros, Wayne Road: I am reporting for the task force tonight. Jay Schabel said that he would get the proposal to you so that they can be prepared in the next couple of weeks.
Dave Pollard, S.R. 82: They are finishing the project on 82. Whjat is the technical term for the layer of asphalt they are putting down?
Jason: It looks like a microseal.
Vic: My understanding is that micro paving is 5/8" that is putdown. This does have an amount of grit in it.
Dave: I hope they do something because between here and Frost Road it looks as if it is already coming up. I don'tknow how long itwill last.
Sue Skrovan, Wayne Road: I wanted to pass out my Civic Center report. I did want to thank the road crew and trustees for addressing the steps and facing. I was glad to see that something is going to be done. I you have no use for the old treads, the garden club would be happy to purchase them from you.
John Festa: If you see anything that needs repair, [let us know.]
Kathy Kelley: I'm good.
Carole Pollard: [I will pull my remarks out of this slot and put them either at the end of this post or into a separate post.]
Dan Cozzens, Winchell Road: Dan asked for clarification about the bull pen: Is that so they can get into their house?
Vic: Yes.
Dan: Why doses the township have to spend the money on the access drive when it is the township's drive?
John Festa: The road that is there now was interfering with what the beautification committee wanted to do. The people who live there have used it forever. But with the old road removed we need access also. We are going through an issue with the landlord of the person who lives there. It would not be good for the township to kick someone off there., The woman who lives there had no idea that it was the township property. [We are working] to provide access.
Vic: Some of that original road will still be used. The idea is to dig out the road and use some of the asphalt and some of it doesn't have to be torn up.
John Festa: This has to be equal treatment under the law. People might ask if you are putting that road in for one person.
Dan: When you build a house, you put your own driveway in.
Vic: We can not spend township money on personal property.
John Festa: It is for the enjoyment of the people. It has been a tricky situation--it has not been easy.
Dan: I just wanted clarification.
John Festa: Hopefully soon we can have all this worked out on paper and we can bring closure to this.
Dave Pollard: To John Festa, may I suggest that this is almost a unique situation because for generations they have crossed township property to get to their own. But for others, no one else is crossing township property. You do not have to do this for anyone else because they would not be crossing township property to get to their own. [Blogger: I believe this is in response to John Festa's hypothetical that if we did this for Taylors, we would have to do it, for example, for Mark Kramer if he wanted to cross the ball field to get to his place.]
John Festa: We have been in contact with our attorney and he has been guiding us. [Actually, although the guidance may have been available all along, it seems as if it has only been accepted since the last meeting or so by trustee Festa.] I think eventually we will get it figured out.
Dave: On School Lane the easement comes to the edge of their property. The township property goes right to the edge of theirs.
John Festa: This is not just kicking the can down the road.
Dave: You have somewhat the same situation on Old Frost. You have people behind me that are going to lose depth from their frontage when the road is widened. But you do not have a strip of township property between the road and their property. So you have to do the same thing [there].
[Blogger: My public comment will be a separate post: I am overdue for supper.]
John Festa: I am still trying to reach out to Time Warner.
One more thing--There was a question last week about attorney's fees and cost to the township. The Ohio Revised Code provides that the prosecuting attorney will be the attorney for every township. Also, being on other boards,m such as the fire board and airport authority, the prosecutor's office charges $5,000 per year retainer. That covers whatever the prosecutor's office does. So the answer to the question is $5,000. [Blogger: This will be addressed further in the last part of Public Comment.
One more--I have not heard from the task force.
Vic: They had a meeting Tuesday night in the gymnasium. I haven't heard anything that came from that. Ken Parker called and asked if it was OK. Apparently everything went OK.
John Festa: I wanted to make sure we didn't lose track of that. Also, the Blackbrook Conservancy asked if they could use the township hall for their meeting.
[Sue Lilley (sp?) is an officer or the new president of the group and was at the meeting. She confirmed that the date of the meeting was August 15 at 7 p.m.]
Vic: It should be all right.
Continuing, to Jodie: I have another question. Have you received any money from HB 49, local government funds? It will be distributed to the county and then to the township. It is extra payments to the townships. This came up at the meeting the other night we had for the distribution of it. The way I understand it, it would come from the county commissioners to the township. It was supposed to start July 1. It is supposed to be $1,000,000 each month to the townships and then $10,000,000 for the calendar year. Some small villages would qualify also. My understanding is that Hiram has received some. There is a couple of different government funds. If you find out anything. . . . Keep your eyes open.
[Jason asked where Vic got that, but I missed the answer. He added a bit more about how it was supposed to work. He also referred to a report through the OTA, and Jason suggested calling the association.]
Public Comment
Sue Lilley: [Blogger: With all respect to Ms. Lilley, I am not going to give a transcript of the conversation she had with the trustees, but I will summarize it and hit what I think are the high points.]
She began by checking with the trustees about a letter dating from 1986 to the trustees referring to the ditches. Apparently every time the trustees or the officers of the Blackbrook Conservancy change, the trustees receive the letter.
Traffic on Center Road (called Blackbrook Road at one time) was very heavy and fast before the bridge was closed, and a lot of debris ends up in the bottom of the ditches. Also, recently one of the culverts was destroyed in order to protect one of the residents from being flood. Sue asked who is actually responsible for cleaning the ditches and keeping the water down.
Jason answered: The township is responsible for cleaning the ditches, and that from the trustees' point of view the ditches are there for the roads--to keep the water off the roads, not for any other reason.
Sue asked if the trustees knew that the water goes over the road.
Vic: Yes. My understanding is that $4.00 per acre per year goes to Janet Esposito (county auditor). Our main purpose of maintaining the road is to maintain the road and the berm, but not the ditches
One of the concerns Ms. Lilley had is that Blackbrook takes in all the water down to the Chagrin River, and every time a development is put in, that area gets more water, even though it is only about 500 acres.
She asked the trustees to clean the ditches.
Vic: The biggest problem is that you are legally a subdivision and so are we.
Sue: But it is your road.
There was some discussion about the damage to the berm.
Vic pointed out that even if gravel was taken out of the ditches, since it is not packed on the berm, it will end up in the ditches again.
There was discussion about how an ambulance would get in, considering that the water goes over the road.
Jason said that there are 5-6 places in the township where that happens, and that the rains have been heavier for the last several years. The township is trying to do the best we can to rectify things.
He and Vic both voiced willingness to help as and wherever possible
Jason asked to see a copy of the conservancy's by-laws.
Vic: We have always been willing to help, but we have to watch the legal liability of working with another subdivision. All I have [in the way of records and information] is when it was incorporated in 1942.
Dave Pollard: Vic, didn't something like this come up earlier in your tenure?
Vic: There used to be a CETA program but no longer. They would come out and clean the ditches and haul brush.
To Sue Lilley: I will talk to the guys on Monday. Because of the rain they can't get in there, to the bottom.
Bill Kelley: I'm done.
Larry Leitzow: No comment.
Amy Janca: I wanted to thank the entire group of trustees. I realize this whole issue with the bull pen has been more involved than any of us expected.
[Blogger: Well, dear reader, if you have followed the saga of the bull pen, you may just have come to the conclusion that true due diligence at the very beginning would have made a very large difference in the story and the outcome. And maybe even the appearance of the area.]
Jan Oros, Wayne Road: I am reporting for the task force tonight. Jay Schabel said that he would get the proposal to you so that they can be prepared in the next couple of weeks.
Dave Pollard, S.R. 82: They are finishing the project on 82. Whjat is the technical term for the layer of asphalt they are putting down?
Jason: It looks like a microseal.
Vic: My understanding is that micro paving is 5/8" that is putdown. This does have an amount of grit in it.
Dave: I hope they do something because between here and Frost Road it looks as if it is already coming up. I don'tknow how long itwill last.
Sue Skrovan, Wayne Road: I wanted to pass out my Civic Center report. I did want to thank the road crew and trustees for addressing the steps and facing. I was glad to see that something is going to be done. I you have no use for the old treads, the garden club would be happy to purchase them from you.
John Festa: If you see anything that needs repair, [let us know.]
Kathy Kelley: I'm good.
Carole Pollard: [I will pull my remarks out of this slot and put them either at the end of this post or into a separate post.]
Dan Cozzens, Winchell Road: Dan asked for clarification about the bull pen: Is that so they can get into their house?
Vic: Yes.
Dan: Why doses the township have to spend the money on the access drive when it is the township's drive?
John Festa: The road that is there now was interfering with what the beautification committee wanted to do. The people who live there have used it forever. But with the old road removed we need access also. We are going through an issue with the landlord of the person who lives there. It would not be good for the township to kick someone off there., The woman who lives there had no idea that it was the township property. [We are working] to provide access.
Vic: Some of that original road will still be used. The idea is to dig out the road and use some of the asphalt and some of it doesn't have to be torn up.
John Festa: This has to be equal treatment under the law. People might ask if you are putting that road in for one person.
Dan: When you build a house, you put your own driveway in.
Vic: We can not spend township money on personal property.
John Festa: It is for the enjoyment of the people. It has been a tricky situation--it has not been easy.
Dan: I just wanted clarification.
John Festa: Hopefully soon we can have all this worked out on paper and we can bring closure to this.
Dave Pollard: To John Festa, may I suggest that this is almost a unique situation because for generations they have crossed township property to get to their own. But for others, no one else is crossing township property. You do not have to do this for anyone else because they would not be crossing township property to get to their own. [Blogger: I believe this is in response to John Festa's hypothetical that if we did this for Taylors, we would have to do it, for example, for Mark Kramer if he wanted to cross the ball field to get to his place.]
John Festa: We have been in contact with our attorney and he has been guiding us. [Actually, although the guidance may have been available all along, it seems as if it has only been accepted since the last meeting or so by trustee Festa.] I think eventually we will get it figured out.
Dave: On School Lane the easement comes to the edge of their property. The township property goes right to the edge of theirs.
John Festa: This is not just kicking the can down the road.
Dave: You have somewhat the same situation on Old Frost. You have people behind me that are going to lose depth from their frontage when the road is widened. But you do not have a strip of township property between the road and their property. So you have to do the same thing [there].
[Blogger: My public comment will be a separate post: I am overdue for supper.]
Saturday, August 12, 2017
And Now, for School Lane
[Blogger: First, my apologies for putting an inaccurate title on the previous post. It grew to be longer than I thought. I will make a serious effort on this one to condense routine matters and spend more time on the special topic(s).]
Jason said that everything he had was under old business and asked John Festa what he had.
John Festa needs more time to deal with the employee handbook and wants to have a discussion with Chris Meduri.
Vic: I have the bid books. This one is for chip and seal. We need to sign off on it.
This is for the crack seal. Because it was so high [they are re-bidding it]. We may have to bid it out ourselves. But it is so late in the year we may not get many responses, or the prices may be high. Do you want to get some bids and see where they are at?
Jason thought we were probably better off to get bids on our own, since developing a bid book takes quite a while. Then there was some further discussion about the chip seal, and he asked Vic is there was anything else.
Vic: The electricity [in the school] has been on and off. It is passed for the hookup [for the elevator, I believe--blogger]. We have to do some internal stuff. They were there today and we thought they would be done today, but there was no electricity on the top floor, but when we checked there were a lot of breakers turned off. We are going to be voting on the 8th. The gym had power.
Continuing: There is some kind of delay on the brick for the elevator enclosure. The electricians have been talking with the elevator company. The electricals are almost done. They are checking on the motors. TIt is finally to the point that there are no more excuses.
Continuing: They are saying they have to have 3-phase before they can go ahead. They had 400 amps on the single phase.
John Festa added some observations and information. Waiting for the 3-phase is apparently standard procedure.
Vic: I can't say enough about the Ohio Edison crew. The guy that set the pole was really talented.
Old Business
Jason reported that the treads are in for the Civic Center, and hoped work would start soon.
I got an e-mail from Jay Schabel, who is still working on the agreement for the school. He wanted to run it by me to be sure [that moving ahead was OK]. Maybe by the next meeting we will have something there.
Also, the Kelleys are here this evening. Vic has been working with the surveyor and sent [something--missed the exact word] to the recorder. The property owners thought they own School Lane because of the overhead [survey; I think that's correct. Jason has stated that the aerial maps are not accurate the way the ground-based survey lines are.]
Continuing: It has been corrected on the GIS now.
Jason ran through the details of the property and stated, basically there is no doubt that it is a township road.
Vic: There are 6 pins now in that roadway: one at the fence, one in your [Kelleys] driveway, and 82 on the west end. On the east end, there is one on 82, one across from your driveway, and one the county did.
Kathy Kelley: May I ask a question: Are Goggin and Heineman aware of this?
Vic and Jason: Probably not. We hath have James Goggin's number and we can notify them.
Kathy: James Goggin has removed the No Trespassing signs. But on both ends of School Lane he has posted No Hunting and You Will Be Prosecuted. So I think that in his mind he still thinks he owns School Lane. We have voting coming up Tuesday next week, so parking on School Lane is allegedly township property.
Jason: Here is what we can do. I can give him a call and make sure he has a copy of all of this paperwork that I just gave you guys. I can let him know the GIS map is incorrect.
Here is what I strongly want to get [right] with the surveyor's description.
Vic: Did you give him the copy we received from the county about 1879? That came from the county engineer. [Vic then went into some of the history of the relationship between Center Road and Blackbrook Road, probably before 1900.]
Bill and Kathy: Thank yuou for your speed in doing this.
John Festa asked about the building in the right of way. That is the school shelter.
Vic: Not only that, but the fence is in the right of way.
Jason: After the meeting, I went and talked to Colleen [Heineman]. I know her but not very well.
They were under the belief that they owned the road and the right of way. I told her we are going to provide supporting documentation. I told her about the fence. She said that Auburn Fence had put up the fence and talked to the township. I talked to John Dickey and there is no paperwork. There is no documentation. Making a long story short, I will pass this documentation on to them. But about the little house--school buses will not go down School Lane--they believe that School Lane is a private drive. I told her, no, it is not. We need to call them [the school system].
Vic: I will do that. They just talked to me about using the school parking lot as a dropoff point now that the bridge[on Center Road] is closed. Now they are thinking that the children need to be brought to a safe location.
Kathy Kelley: Thank you for this. I just want to be sure that Mr. Goggin has the same information.
Vic: There was some more information that he gave about who did the research.
Jason: I don't anticipate that there will be a problem, but if they still disagree and block it on voting day, we will call the sheriff. We will take appropriate measures if need be. Definitely be our eyes and ears because we can't be there. Definitely give us a call.
Bill: A lot of people in the township are aware that they can park on our property. That may create an incident. People are always welcome to park there. Who cares?
Jason: We all worked on this.
Bill: Government works sometimes.
Dave Pollard: I distinctly remember that buses used that drive. It is just surprising.
Vic: I'll call the transportation [manager at the school].
Dave: If that road [Center Road] is going to be closed for a couple of years, you may want to do something about winter shelter for the kids.
Jason said that everything he had was under old business and asked John Festa what he had.
John Festa needs more time to deal with the employee handbook and wants to have a discussion with Chris Meduri.
Vic: I have the bid books. This one is for chip and seal. We need to sign off on it.
This is for the crack seal. Because it was so high [they are re-bidding it]. We may have to bid it out ourselves. But it is so late in the year we may not get many responses, or the prices may be high. Do you want to get some bids and see where they are at?
Jason thought we were probably better off to get bids on our own, since developing a bid book takes quite a while. Then there was some further discussion about the chip seal, and he asked Vic is there was anything else.
Vic: The electricity [in the school] has been on and off. It is passed for the hookup [for the elevator, I believe--blogger]. We have to do some internal stuff. They were there today and we thought they would be done today, but there was no electricity on the top floor, but when we checked there were a lot of breakers turned off. We are going to be voting on the 8th. The gym had power.
Continuing: There is some kind of delay on the brick for the elevator enclosure. The electricians have been talking with the elevator company. The electricals are almost done. They are checking on the motors. TIt is finally to the point that there are no more excuses.
Continuing: They are saying they have to have 3-phase before they can go ahead. They had 400 amps on the single phase.
John Festa added some observations and information. Waiting for the 3-phase is apparently standard procedure.
Vic: I can't say enough about the Ohio Edison crew. The guy that set the pole was really talented.
Old Business
Jason reported that the treads are in for the Civic Center, and hoped work would start soon.
I got an e-mail from Jay Schabel, who is still working on the agreement for the school. He wanted to run it by me to be sure [that moving ahead was OK]. Maybe by the next meeting we will have something there.
Also, the Kelleys are here this evening. Vic has been working with the surveyor and sent [something--missed the exact word] to the recorder. The property owners thought they own School Lane because of the overhead [survey; I think that's correct. Jason has stated that the aerial maps are not accurate the way the ground-based survey lines are.]
Continuing: It has been corrected on the GIS now.
Jason ran through the details of the property and stated, basically there is no doubt that it is a township road.
Vic: There are 6 pins now in that roadway: one at the fence, one in your [Kelleys] driveway, and 82 on the west end. On the east end, there is one on 82, one across from your driveway, and one the county did.
Kathy Kelley: May I ask a question: Are Goggin and Heineman aware of this?
Vic and Jason: Probably not. We hath have James Goggin's number and we can notify them.
Kathy: James Goggin has removed the No Trespassing signs. But on both ends of School Lane he has posted No Hunting and You Will Be Prosecuted. So I think that in his mind he still thinks he owns School Lane. We have voting coming up Tuesday next week, so parking on School Lane is allegedly township property.
Jason: Here is what we can do. I can give him a call and make sure he has a copy of all of this paperwork that I just gave you guys. I can let him know the GIS map is incorrect.
Here is what I strongly want to get [right] with the surveyor's description.
Vic: Did you give him the copy we received from the county about 1879? That came from the county engineer. [Vic then went into some of the history of the relationship between Center Road and Blackbrook Road, probably before 1900.]
Bill and Kathy: Thank yuou for your speed in doing this.
John Festa asked about the building in the right of way. That is the school shelter.
Vic: Not only that, but the fence is in the right of way.
Jason: After the meeting, I went and talked to Colleen [Heineman]. I know her but not very well.
They were under the belief that they owned the road and the right of way. I told her we are going to provide supporting documentation. I told her about the fence. She said that Auburn Fence had put up the fence and talked to the township. I talked to John Dickey and there is no paperwork. There is no documentation. Making a long story short, I will pass this documentation on to them. But about the little house--school buses will not go down School Lane--they believe that School Lane is a private drive. I told her, no, it is not. We need to call them [the school system].
Vic: I will do that. They just talked to me about using the school parking lot as a dropoff point now that the bridge[on Center Road] is closed. Now they are thinking that the children need to be brought to a safe location.
Kathy Kelley: Thank you for this. I just want to be sure that Mr. Goggin has the same information.
Vic: There was some more information that he gave about who did the research.
Jason: I don't anticipate that there will be a problem, but if they still disagree and block it on voting day, we will call the sheriff. We will take appropriate measures if need be. Definitely be our eyes and ears because we can't be there. Definitely give us a call.
Bill: A lot of people in the township are aware that they can park on our property. That may create an incident. People are always welcome to park there. Who cares?
Jason: We all worked on this.
Bill: Government works sometimes.
Dave Pollard: I distinctly remember that buses used that drive. It is just surprising.
Vic: I'll call the transportation [manager at the school].
Dave: If that road [Center Road] is going to be closed for a couple of years, you may want to do something about winter shelter for the kids.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Trustees 8-3-17: Action on School Lane, Bullpen
There were two sets of minutes that the trustees reviewed and accepted.
Correspondence included a letter from the attorney for Enterprise regarding a zoning hearing, and follow up on recommendations from KLA Risk Management.
There was a rather lengthy zoning report that I understand included a lot of stuff that wasn't really zoning as much as it was various residents playing a round with the zoning inspector of "Let's you and my neighbor fight."
There was no action to date on the two properties in Aurora Meadows that are up for removal under the Land Bank.
Cemetery: Burial fees, $1200; graves, $900. Total, $2100. [If you really want to know anything that involves actual dollar amounts of anything, check against the minutes on the website once they are posted; I am not good at getting numbers into my notes, although the cemetery report is usually simple enough to manage.]
Beautification Committee: Jim Aldrich and Amy Janca presented what they had done. Amy said she had worked up a sketch of the plans for the bullpen.
Jim: The arbor vitae are in. Hope to come to a resolution on the property issues with the neighbors and thus be able to facilitate the project. This would include removing the roadway and old paving/asphalt, and planting that area to [I believe, blogger] grass.
There is unfinished business with the flagpole. If you allow, Frank Horack would like a couple of minutes about the building.
Frank Horack: A rundown on the process. In my last inspection report I drew up plans for the bullpen area last year and went to the zoning inspector and got a zoning permit and then to the building department and got my plans approved and they were paid for. In the meantime I had to take out the electrical permit and before that had to take out the building permit. That was on the plans submitted last year.
[Blogger: As he began his presentation, Frank gave some paperwork to the trustees.]
I took out the permit on 4/12/17 and roughed in for two lights on the flagpole and on 5/17 it was approved. I installed two lights and hooked them up to the electric that was on the pole that was there, existing. I believe, Mr. Grimm, you were the one who put the electric on that pole.
[Vic made a response that I could not pick up from the recording.]
Frank: Right, right. But you was [sic] the one that did that. That was the same work I got accused of by the diarrhea blogger of [Blogger: On the recording, the next word or two were unintelligible, even after 6 replays.] Do you [to Vic] remember that?
Vic's response was unintelligible on the recording.
Frank: I know. That wasn't it. But you put it up the pole.
Vic: I put the panel up.
Frank: Right. Now if you look at my final on 7/10/17 the inspector approved the lights I put in but he had a comment about the lights on the pole. So if you fellas want to do something about it it's up to you. I had the lights in and working. If you want to pursue fixing it or leaving it it is up to you three.
Vic: Who was the inspector?
Frank: Mike Cody [?] [There are a couple of ways my shorthand could be transcribed for this name. I think this is it.] He had a safety issue with it because the public is involved.
Amy Janca: We are at that point now--do you need some sort of resolution as far as the township developing the access road so we can begin grading and moving soil for what we want to do? What is the next step?
Jason: I will probably turn this over to John.
John Festa: I had a two-pronged solution--a couple of suggestions.
First, we all agreed that we would like to put in a drive. [Blogger: There was noise, I missed a word, and have a question mark before "drive."] I made a quick sketch of where I thought it ought to go.
Vic: A little green space in front of the barn. They should have access.
John Festa: I am thinking that maybe we should make a motion that we should get that access driveway put in. That way Taylors can access their property [and] these folks can do their work. This is just for the access.
Second, I sent you guys [the other trustees] an updated license agreement. Chris Meduri has seen it. It is a little more friendly to the landowner there. I expressed to Chris that we are not there to disturb the structures on the property. Our intent was to give them permission to use the drive and access [the drive]. So what I would like to do with the license agreement is to sign it and then hand it over to the Taylors' attorney and let the Taylors' attorney look at it and see if there is something they would want that we can make an agreement on so we can have a nice happy property there and both have enjoyment of the property. I think that would be fair for everybody. Let her (Mrs. Taylor's) attorney look at it and make some suggestions and come to an agreement. [In discussion with Chris Meduri] I had no intention of disrupting her structures.
The attorney told me we can not spend public money on private property, so there is no way we can put in a driveway. [Blogger: Well, dear reader, if you remember, about three meetings back or so, trustee Festa broached the possibility of installing a driveway for Mrs. Taylor--thereby breaking the law--and Dave Pollard in public comment pointed out that it was not permitted by law. Apparently trustee Festa, in addition to not knowing the law in this regard, is also selectively deaf, because the foregoing remark was made as if it were a new discovery for him.]
Vic: I called her attorney but have not heard back. I suggested that he contact Chris Meduri.
[John Festa made a comment here that I did not note completely. It looks from my notes as if he actually just trailed off.]
Vic: I can get a copy to him.
John Festa: So I would like to go ahead with the access road.
Vic, to Amy Janca, mainly: I have a couple of questions.
How much more do you have to do on the flagpole?
Amy: We ran short of block. I contacted Kelly Supply but he ran short of it. We are also considering some more decorative block. [Blogger: There was more comment there, about the present color being kind of bland, and they were looking for something that would add more color. Hmmm. Like maybe the color of the flowers and shrubs that were removed?]
Vic: Everybody has gotten calls about that area. I would like to see you concentrate on the flagpole area.
Frank Horack made an introductory remark and then explained what was needed: It needs to be filled, and I recommended to get the gravel up so far and fill it with decorative stone of some kind.
[More description followed.]
Vic: This is what I mean about what it will take for the flagpole area.
Frank: That is a priority for me--that is why I told them I would take it on. If anybody knows where to get decorative stone, I would like to know. It will take 6-7 tons to build it up before the decorative stone.
Amy: We have had a lot of discussions because we realize that it still does not look as appealing as it should. [Blogger: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Vic: I will check with Chris Meduri tomorrow and if he gives me the OK . . . .
There should be about three feet of grass area between the barn and the drive. They are concerned about not getting on township property to get to the barn. That is why they asked if anything was going to be planted there.
Jim Aldrich: Is the green area going to be maintained by the township?
Vic: I don't know who has been cutting it there. I am talking about closer to Diagonal Road.
Jim: We will have more to do next year but we will have those areas reseeded and plant the other areas.
Vic: I think the flagpole area needs to be addressed first.
Jason: We can help you out with the grits and 8's. What else do you need?
Frank Horack: It just needs something for color.
Amy: It is just blah.
Vic: And the front mound will be mowed again? [There was some discussion about that with Jim Aldrich.
John Festa: Made a motion that the township construct a new access driveway and move forward on the project and allow these folks to go forward.
Vic: Contingent on approval from Chris Meduri. [Blogger's emphasis.]
The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
[Blogger: What is in the post to here constitutes a unit, so I am stopping here for now. I have listened and re-listened to the recording a number of times. I have said many times that I am not a certified court/conference recorder--and so the blog will not be letter perfect. However, despite an occasional honest error, what is here is substantially correct and accurate to the best of my ability.
I put in close to an hour reviewing, rewriting, and re-keyboarding the above remarks, and I'm done with this part.]
Correspondence included a letter from the attorney for Enterprise regarding a zoning hearing, and follow up on recommendations from KLA Risk Management.
There was a rather lengthy zoning report that I understand included a lot of stuff that wasn't really zoning as much as it was various residents playing a round with the zoning inspector of "Let's you and my neighbor fight."
There was no action to date on the two properties in Aurora Meadows that are up for removal under the Land Bank.
Cemetery: Burial fees, $1200; graves, $900. Total, $2100. [If you really want to know anything that involves actual dollar amounts of anything, check against the minutes on the website once they are posted; I am not good at getting numbers into my notes, although the cemetery report is usually simple enough to manage.]
Beautification Committee: Jim Aldrich and Amy Janca presented what they had done. Amy said she had worked up a sketch of the plans for the bullpen.
Jim: The arbor vitae are in. Hope to come to a resolution on the property issues with the neighbors and thus be able to facilitate the project. This would include removing the roadway and old paving/asphalt, and planting that area to [I believe, blogger] grass.
There is unfinished business with the flagpole. If you allow, Frank Horack would like a couple of minutes about the building.
Frank Horack: A rundown on the process. In my last inspection report I drew up plans for the bullpen area last year and went to the zoning inspector and got a zoning permit and then to the building department and got my plans approved and they were paid for. In the meantime I had to take out the electrical permit and before that had to take out the building permit. That was on the plans submitted last year.
[Blogger: As he began his presentation, Frank gave some paperwork to the trustees.]
I took out the permit on 4/12/17 and roughed in for two lights on the flagpole and on 5/17 it was approved. I installed two lights and hooked them up to the electric that was on the pole that was there, existing. I believe, Mr. Grimm, you were the one who put the electric on that pole.
[Vic made a response that I could not pick up from the recording.]
Frank: Right, right. But you was [sic] the one that did that. That was the same work I got accused of by the diarrhea blogger of [Blogger: On the recording, the next word or two were unintelligible, even after 6 replays.] Do you [to Vic] remember that?
Vic's response was unintelligible on the recording.
Frank: I know. That wasn't it. But you put it up the pole.
Vic: I put the panel up.
Frank: Right. Now if you look at my final on 7/10/17 the inspector approved the lights I put in but he had a comment about the lights on the pole. So if you fellas want to do something about it it's up to you. I had the lights in and working. If you want to pursue fixing it or leaving it it is up to you three.
Vic: Who was the inspector?
Frank: Mike Cody [?] [There are a couple of ways my shorthand could be transcribed for this name. I think this is it.] He had a safety issue with it because the public is involved.
Amy Janca: We are at that point now--do you need some sort of resolution as far as the township developing the access road so we can begin grading and moving soil for what we want to do? What is the next step?
Jason: I will probably turn this over to John.
John Festa: I had a two-pronged solution--a couple of suggestions.
First, we all agreed that we would like to put in a drive. [Blogger: There was noise, I missed a word, and have a question mark before "drive."] I made a quick sketch of where I thought it ought to go.
Vic: A little green space in front of the barn. They should have access.
John Festa: I am thinking that maybe we should make a motion that we should get that access driveway put in. That way Taylors can access their property [and] these folks can do their work. This is just for the access.
Second, I sent you guys [the other trustees] an updated license agreement. Chris Meduri has seen it. It is a little more friendly to the landowner there. I expressed to Chris that we are not there to disturb the structures on the property. Our intent was to give them permission to use the drive and access [the drive]. So what I would like to do with the license agreement is to sign it and then hand it over to the Taylors' attorney and let the Taylors' attorney look at it and see if there is something they would want that we can make an agreement on so we can have a nice happy property there and both have enjoyment of the property. I think that would be fair for everybody. Let her (Mrs. Taylor's) attorney look at it and make some suggestions and come to an agreement. [In discussion with Chris Meduri] I had no intention of disrupting her structures.
The attorney told me we can not spend public money on private property, so there is no way we can put in a driveway. [Blogger: Well, dear reader, if you remember, about three meetings back or so, trustee Festa broached the possibility of installing a driveway for Mrs. Taylor--thereby breaking the law--and Dave Pollard in public comment pointed out that it was not permitted by law. Apparently trustee Festa, in addition to not knowing the law in this regard, is also selectively deaf, because the foregoing remark was made as if it were a new discovery for him.]
Vic: I called her attorney but have not heard back. I suggested that he contact Chris Meduri.
[John Festa made a comment here that I did not note completely. It looks from my notes as if he actually just trailed off.]
Vic: I can get a copy to him.
John Festa: So I would like to go ahead with the access road.
Vic, to Amy Janca, mainly: I have a couple of questions.
How much more do you have to do on the flagpole?
Amy: We ran short of block. I contacted Kelly Supply but he ran short of it. We are also considering some more decorative block. [Blogger: There was more comment there, about the present color being kind of bland, and they were looking for something that would add more color. Hmmm. Like maybe the color of the flowers and shrubs that were removed?]
Vic: Everybody has gotten calls about that area. I would like to see you concentrate on the flagpole area.
Frank Horack made an introductory remark and then explained what was needed: It needs to be filled, and I recommended to get the gravel up so far and fill it with decorative stone of some kind.
[More description followed.]
Vic: This is what I mean about what it will take for the flagpole area.
Frank: That is a priority for me--that is why I told them I would take it on. If anybody knows where to get decorative stone, I would like to know. It will take 6-7 tons to build it up before the decorative stone.
Amy: We have had a lot of discussions because we realize that it still does not look as appealing as it should. [Blogger: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Vic: I will check with Chris Meduri tomorrow and if he gives me the OK . . . .
There should be about three feet of grass area between the barn and the drive. They are concerned about not getting on township property to get to the barn. That is why they asked if anything was going to be planted there.
Jim Aldrich: Is the green area going to be maintained by the township?
Vic: I don't know who has been cutting it there. I am talking about closer to Diagonal Road.
Jim: We will have more to do next year but we will have those areas reseeded and plant the other areas.
Vic: I think the flagpole area needs to be addressed first.
Jason: We can help you out with the grits and 8's. What else do you need?
Frank Horack: It just needs something for color.
Amy: It is just blah.
Vic: And the front mound will be mowed again? [There was some discussion about that with Jim Aldrich.
John Festa: Made a motion that the township construct a new access driveway and move forward on the project and allow these folks to go forward.
Vic: Contingent on approval from Chris Meduri. [Blogger's emphasis.]
The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
[Blogger: What is in the post to here constitutes a unit, so I am stopping here for now. I have listened and re-listened to the recording a number of times. I have said many times that I am not a certified court/conference recorder--and so the blog will not be letter perfect. However, despite an occasional honest error, what is here is substantially correct and accurate to the best of my ability.
I put in close to an hour reviewing, rewriting, and re-keyboarding the above remarks, and I'm done with this part.]
Saturday, August 5, 2017
A tour of the high school
[Blogger Foreword: Dottie Summerlin sent this to me because she knows I don't go on Facebook. I thought it was worth putting it into the blog, since we will be voting on the issue again on August 8, which is Tuesday as I keyboard this. Dottie's impression of the school follows.]
Saturday we toured the high school building so that we are informed to vote on the levy that is on the ballot on Aug 8. Most of us in the tour group had not been in the building ever or it's been a long time ago. For me, I've recently been in the cafeteria, only. I'm not an alum but Brian (1977) & our kids (1996 & 2001) are, our granddaughter about to be in high school. It was a very enlightening tour. Originally built in 1954, it's a very dark, depressing, & aged building with no sprinkler systems in parts, many fogged windows, a maze of hallways due to numerous additions, antiquated bathrooms, locker rooms, science labs, if a student is injured or handicapped, they have limited access to their classes. . . .the list goes on & on. Our kids deserve 'way better. People thought that back in the day when Center school was built, saying goodbye to the one room school house tradition, when our neighborhood schools were built, when the new Primary & Intermediate schools were built, and yes, back in 1954 when the high school was built. Why do folks think our kids don't deserve a school environment that fits into their world today, not our parents world, not even our our world? Thank God our grandparents & parents believed in the future & had the vision to build schools for our futures. Now it's our turn to carry the torch. Vote Yes for our schools, our kids, our town.
[Thanks for this, Dottie!]
Saturday we toured the high school building so that we are informed to vote on the levy that is on the ballot on Aug 8. Most of us in the tour group had not been in the building ever or it's been a long time ago. For me, I've recently been in the cafeteria, only. I'm not an alum but Brian (1977) & our kids (1996 & 2001) are, our granddaughter about to be in high school. It was a very enlightening tour. Originally built in 1954, it's a very dark, depressing, & aged building with no sprinkler systems in parts, many fogged windows, a maze of hallways due to numerous additions, antiquated bathrooms, locker rooms, science labs, if a student is injured or handicapped, they have limited access to their classes. . . .the list goes on & on. Our kids deserve 'way better. People thought that back in the day when Center school was built, saying goodbye to the one room school house tradition, when our neighborhood schools were built, when the new Primary & Intermediate schools were built, and yes, back in 1954 when the high school was built. Why do folks think our kids don't deserve a school environment that fits into their world today, not our parents world, not even our our world? Thank God our grandparents & parents believed in the future & had the vision to build schools for our futures. Now it's our turn to carry the torch. Vote Yes for our schools, our kids, our town.
[Thanks for this, Dottie!]
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
A clarification, 7-20-17 re Taylor property/bullpen
Blogger: This is a clarification of the confusion in the previous post about Dave's and Jan Oros's remarks regarding the bullpen and the Taylor property.
As part of the exchange between Dave and John Festa, John Festa reiterated that if the Webers bought the property from Mrs. Taylor and subsequently sold it, the license to use the access to the house would not transfer.
Dave commented that it took long enough to get to this point.
John Festa: Government moves slowly. [Blogger: It depends on who is representing the government. Vic got further in a month than trustee Festa did in nine, and Vic is not hasty in matters like this one.]
Dave made a couple of more remarks after the one immediately above and then was done.
Jan Oros: Yes, Dave, after quite a long time we have come to this point, which I believe could have been taken at the beginning with some research and due diligence and neighborliness. I am sorry this had to be such a selective program . . . .
I must say I have not seen the bullpen look like this [ever].
I am holding my response to Mr. Festa's . . . .
[Jan's remarks ended here.]
[Blogger: I listened to the recording a couple of times, and the last word was overshadowed by noise of some kind. However, in re-listening, I became aware of something that I missed while feverishly taking notes: A volley of pen-clicks from trustee Festa. It's his "tell" and shows up any time he is challenged.]
As part of the exchange between Dave and John Festa, John Festa reiterated that if the Webers bought the property from Mrs. Taylor and subsequently sold it, the license to use the access to the house would not transfer.
Dave commented that it took long enough to get to this point.
John Festa: Government moves slowly. [Blogger: It depends on who is representing the government. Vic got further in a month than trustee Festa did in nine, and Vic is not hasty in matters like this one.]
Dave made a couple of more remarks after the one immediately above and then was done.
Jan Oros: Yes, Dave, after quite a long time we have come to this point, which I believe could have been taken at the beginning with some research and due diligence and neighborliness. I am sorry this had to be such a selective program . . . .
I must say I have not seen the bullpen look like this [ever].
I am holding my response to Mr. Festa's . . . .
[Jan's remarks ended here.]
[Blogger: I listened to the recording a couple of times, and the last word was overshadowed by noise of some kind. However, in re-listening, I became aware of something that I missed while feverishly taking notes: A volley of pen-clicks from trustee Festa. It's his "tell" and shows up any time he is challenged.]
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