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GOSHEN TOWNSHIP -- Township trustees this week paid tribute to a former township trustee and police chief who recently passed.
Trustees began their meeting with a moment of silence in memory of the recently departed Todd Beeson, a former township trustee from 2010 through 2018, as well as a former Goshen Township police chief and Damascus Volunteer Fire Department captain. Trustees Chairman John Bricker said Beeson had been a friend and mentor to everyone on the board and most of the audience members in attendance.
Also at the meeting, trustees awarded the annual spring vegetation spraying contract.
The annual contract was awarded to McFeely Lawn Care, the only bid that met the township's specifications, at a cost of $550 annually and covers the township's guardrail system, administration building and the township garage. Roads Foreman Matt Springer said the contract also covers Bricker Park and includes the use of a specialized herbicide around the lake to prevent annual issues with combating both annual overgrowth and erosion issues at the location.
Bricker said that the township had considered doing the spraying work themselves but found that the cost of the necessary chemicals alone would be approximately $400, and that adding the costs of labor and obtaining the necessary certifications to use the specialized materials would have cost the township far more than the annual contract. Bricker also said that the township's insurer was also against the use of such chemicals by the township, with Springer noting that insurance companies were becoming stricter with other park systems and townships on the issue.
Trustees also further discussed the recently proposed change to the police department's uniform allowance policy that would see the annual allowance paid out in a single payment rather than in two throughout the year. Trustee Shawn Mesler once again expressed his reluctance to change the policy as if the full amount was disbursed and an officer subsequently left the department, recouping those funds would be made more difficult.
"It's nothing against them, but if you give it to them all at one time, and then they leave two months later, then we're in a hassle to try and get that money back," said Mesler.
While the trustees were open to changing what months the payments are disbursed, they ultimately felt it was best to leave the two-payment system in place.
Trustees also discussed grant funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission, noting that all is proceeding well on the project to resurface Stratton Road funded in part through the grant. Mesler said that the next step will be to advertise the bid package once it was complete, noting they cannot start the project until July 1.
Mesler also suggested the township conduct traffic counts to begin the process of applications for next year's grant funding. Bricker suggested Duck Creek and Malmsberry roads as they were both in need of repair, particularly Malmsberry. Mesler and Trustee Teresa Stratton agreed with Bricker, and Mesler said he would arrange for traffic counts to be conducted on the two roads.
Mesler also gave an update on the township's efforts at addressing the issues on Malmsberry. Mesler said that during the Mahoning County Engineer's meeting earlier this year he had discussed the possibility of the county applying a thin layer of blacktop with their paver so the township could get the road leveled if the township supplied the materials, and that they had initially agreed. However, when Mesler spoke with the county paving crew more recently they said they wouldn't pave the road.
Trustees also discussed several nuisance properties on Diagonal and Duck Creek roads. Bricker said that since the township is not zoned it is difficult for them to address issues with poorly maintained and unseemly properties, especially without assistance from the county.
"Without zoning we don't have the power to just go in and say clean it up or do something. We have to go through the health department or the land bank, to pursue back taxes, or see if they're paying their taxes," said Bricker.
Bricker and Stratton both said they shared their frustration, with Stratton noting that she was currently working with the land bank to pursue action against one of the properties in question on Diagonal Road that has unpaid back taxes.
The trustees will meet next at 7 p.m. June 12.
mahart@mojonews.com