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GOSHEN TOWNSHIP – The Goshen Township Board of Trustees Tuesday discussed changes to the process surrounding internment rights of burial plots in township cemeteries.
Fiscal Officer Michele Barratt explained that due to incorrect information received from Stark Memorial Home, a burial plot had been incorrectly assigned to Rachelle Witherspoon instead of Melissa Witherspoon. While trustees voted unanimously to reassign the plot as originally intended, Barratt said she had developed a new form to prevent similar issues in the future.
According to Barratt, the current process of assigning who may be buried within a given plot was entirely verbal. Which led to issues in the past when a person who purchased the plot for someone else passed away requiring signatures from all relevant next of kin regardless of their locations to resolve. The new form lists the person purchasing the plot. Up to four people are permitted to be interred within it --the maximum number a single plot may accommodate based on burial method --eliminating any lack of clarity regarding who is permitted to be interred.
Trustees also heard from resident Tom Rhodes who said that there was a significant need for poll workers for the upcoming election. Rhodes said that poll workers are paid for their time and do not need to be township residents. In the past he had seen volunteers from as far as Salem and Alliance assist with polling places in the township. The only requirement for applicants is to be 18 or older, and a registered voter. Anyone interested should contact Field Representative Supervisor Annie Dominic at 330-783-2474, extension 6611.
During his report Road Foreman Matt Springer reminded residents that March 15 was cemetery cleanup day in the township. Residents need to remove any decorations or keepsakes prior to that day to ensure nothing valuable or sentimental is unintentionally discarded. Springer said any keepsakes and decorations families would like to remain with the graves can be put back after March 15.
Trustees Chair John Bricker told Springer he had recently been to Horst Tire Service to get quotes for the township's tractor. Bricker said the township could get tires like those already on the tractor for $475 each, but that it had been recommended to switch to a backhoe tire for increased durability and lifespan at a cost of $585. Bricker also said that it was recommended to change both front tires when the township did so, and that many townships had been making a similar switch.
"All the townships are going to these ones, and you get a lot better wear out of them," said Bricker.
During his report Police Chief Jon Calko said that he had picked up the new police cruiser from Montrose Ford Jan. 29, and that it was currently at WB Signs to have graphics applied. Calko said that once the graphics were complete the cruiser would be going "to the outfitter for equipment install in a couple weeks."
Calko also said that he was waiting to receive quotes for upgrades to the department's security camera system from three companies including Salem Century Alarm, which handled the Salem Police Department's system upgrade in 2019; Detect Alarm Systems in Atwater; and ALC Technologies LLC in Niles. Calko explained that the current system was dated, and that the officers could not readily access recordings at the department, while Bricker noted the township was looking to expand the security system to also include the township garage as part of the upgrade.
The board of trustees will meet next 6 p.m. March 12.