John Banks

The meeting primarily focused on honoring three retiring township employees: Sue Piro, Stu, and Mike Wheeler, who together represented significant tenure and dedication, including extensive involvement with fire station operations, grants, and historical township records. The board accepted the resignation of Firefighter Paramedic Abdul Catchings, effective March 5th, due to him accepting a full-time position elsewhere. Discussions included the need to purchase a replacement battery backup for the fire chief's office computer equipment. A motion was passed to turn over three outstanding bills from non-residents to Ohio Billing for collection procedures. The Fire Report detailed 31 EMS calls (22 ALS, 4 BLS) and 4 fire calls, noting a recent structure fire incident where an Osnaburg Township fire tanker was struck by a vehicle; the driver was cited, and the tanker sustained damage that warranted reporting to Tarmac for insurance purposes. The Cemetery report noted a burial and lot sale at Coun Cemetery totaling $1,700, along with $975 in prepaid closing funds from a family for the same cemetery.

The meeting included several key discussions and actions. The board approved the minutes from the January 13th meeting and accepted the treasurer's report. A significant portion of the meeting addressed the Fire Department's needs, including the request to hire a third employee and the approval of funding, up to $15,000, for three full sets of turnout gear for new and existing staff due to a lack of spares. A motion was passed to hire Kyle Mey as a 240 firefighter/paramedic, effective February 2nd. Operational updates included a report that Medicaid 5's liquid spring issue was resolved under warranty, and new radios and pagers were ordered, though delivery dates are pending. The board also approved payment for truck repair for $252 and authorized payment for overdue street sweeping services from 2025 amounting to $3,843.75. Road department discussions covered public praise for snow plowing efforts, addressing resident concerns about snow buildup on roads (Hill Church and Westfall), temporary exhaust repair on a truck, and ongoing issues with mailboxes being knocked over by snow removal operations. The board received an invitation for ice water rescue training scheduled for February 10th.

The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and an invocation. Key discussions included an addition to the fire agenda for a conference report, and an announcement regarding a trustee's absence. During the approval of previous minutes, the minutes from the February 2nd rescheduled meeting were accepted. The fire department report introduced a new firefighter, Kyle Mey, who is commencing training soon. The report detailed 15 recent calls, including one propane leak, and confirmed the new ambulance is functioning without issue. Training is scheduled for ice rescue the following day. The cemetery report noted a prepaid open and closing at Mapleton Cemetery and a $500 payment to All Around Property. The road report highlighted a significant delay in the delivery of 300 tons of salt, not expected until mid-March, prompting discussion on rationing salt supply. Additionally, the department temporarily fixed a string of six mailboxes whose supporting posts had rotted due to snow pressure. The zoning report noted no permits were issued and mentioned ongoing discussions regarding health department cases, leveraging drones for zoning, and strategies for cleaning up nuisance properties. Trustees discussed attending an upcoming Governmental Law seminar on February 28th and the Stark County Regional Planning Commission's annual dinner on March 11th. Under old business, the delay in receiving State-approved signage for Sucos Park was discussed, emphasizing the need to order necessary signs, including 'No Trespassing' and park rules signage.

The meeting, identified as the first of the new year, involved discussions on amending the agenda to include an executive session without action. Key topics included adjustments to the treasurer's reports (a year-end report and a separation report), and confirmation of three resolution changes related to the reorganization meeting, specifically regarding representatives for Stark Regional Planning and the Health Board. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the proposed new township sign, debating permanent versus temporary structures, material choices, lighting (spotlights versus backlighting), size (5x7 dimensions agreed upon), and placement, involving input from a vendor. A separate issue raised concerned the protocol for emergency access to Hope Senior Village, specifically regarding the location and proper usage of the master key in the knockbox by EMS personnel during wellness checks, and ensuring new hires are trained on its location.

The meeting commenced with a roll call, noting the absence of one Trustee. Key agenda items included the approval of the previous meeting's minutes and the Treasurer's report. Under new business, a discussion took place regarding a temporary appropriation. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an update on the Sucos Park project, involving progress reports from community engagement sessions with Kent City Schools and East Canton students regarding their visions for the park (including features like basketball courts, zip lines, and streams). Discussions also covered next steps for the park, focusing on prioritizing fencing and creating a visual walkthrough for a future capital fundraising campaign. Additionally, the Fire Report recommended the hiring of two new personnel: Randy Hopkins (an experienced firefighter/EMT) and a younger firefighter/EMT candidate, both at the rate of $18.30 per hour, with immediate starts requested for one. The importance of establishing a visitation schedule for trustees to meet new hires was also emphasized.