Amherst Township Trustee Meeting
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call confirming the presence of trustees and the clerk. Key discussions included corrections to the minutes regarding the date of the next regularly scheduled meeting, which was noted as February 10, 2026. The board approved the minutes as corrected and reviewed the current bills and financial reports, noting a correction related to an Ohio Edison payment spanning two months. There was an extended discussion concerning the percentage of township revenue derived from property taxes versus other sources like gasoline tax and franchise fees. Correspondence included notification about the County's pursuit of Urban County Designation, which may result in increased funding potential. The board also noted that the Lorraine County Planning Commission is transitioning to fully digital communication. A notification regarding changes to the Ohio basic building code for one through three-family residential construction was shared, prompting discussion about the history of the township's involvement with building codes and the associated costs and responsibilities of forming a local building department, which the township opted against previously. The status of the Healthy Places grant application was reviewed, with a decision made not to pursue the current application due to time constraints and historical favoring of first-time applicants, though the concept of an outdoor fitness center derived from a national fitness campaign was enthusiastically discussed for future consideration, potentially involving partnerships. Another item involved the Ohio Capital Budget, with a note that while past park comfort facility projects were considered, current parameters may not be applicable; the importance of this biennial funding source was highlighted. Finally, the board discussed participation in the County Engineer's chip and seal program, including requesting estimates for specific roads like Stang Road, and the deadline for commitment to the county engineer was noted as April 3rd.