Licking Township

The meeting included the approval of expenditures totaling $42,790.08. Trustees approved reinvesting $1,030,753.54 from a maturing CDARS into a new 12-month CDARS at an interest rate of 3.45%. Correspondence reviewed included a letter from Senator Tim Schaffer regarding capital funds and a letter from United Aggregates concerning 2026 material pricing; the Solid Waste District Survey was also completed. The Fire Chief reported on pump leak repairs for the 1999 Engine and water intrusion near the west station wall, which the Road Department will investigate. An update was provided on the recent cybersecurity audit, and a draft of the LTWP Social Media & Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy will be sent for review. The Zoning Inspector reported on two new permits issued and discussed the Mixed Use Overlay District Fee schedule, which was subsequently adopted with an initial fee of $2500.00 plus $100.00 per acre. The Board also directed the Fiscal Officer to advertise for bids for the 2026 cemetery and fire station mowing contract, with bids due by March 13, 2026. Discussions also covered the procurement of new cell phones. The Trustees entered into an Executive Session to discuss Employee Compensation.

Key discussions included reviewing and approving expenditures for the period. Correspondence addressed a query regarding dog tethering and a policy concerning social media and information technology use, which was tabled. A public records request received and fulfilled on January 27, 2026, was reported. The Board noted upcoming attendance at a Health Department Council meeting. A cemetery deed required signatures, and changes were made to points of contact for GovDeals and the Verizon Account. The Fire Chief provided the monthly report, noting 101 total runs in January, while the Zoning Inspector reported three permits issued for commercial/educational projects and provided an update on zoning violations. The Board discussed a denied lot split application, agreeing to waive future application fees or refund the current fee if the applicants choose not to reapply. Updates were given on Harbor Hills OPW reimbursement and Stadden's Alley traffic study. The Trustees entered an executive session to discuss compensation for a public employee, after which they approved salary increases for both the Zoning Inspector (from $800.00 to $1200.00 per month) and the Zoning Clerk (an increase of $75.00 per month). Public comments included an individual raising concerns about the Comprehensive Plan.

The meeting included the organizational portion for 2026, involving the election of the President/Chairperson and Vice President/Vice Chairperson. Key resolutions adopted concerned the scheduling of regular meetings for 2026 (first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.), payment of expenses for township conventions, reimbursement of the Zoning Inspector's mileage, designating road crew employees as caretakers of township property, authorizing estimated appropriations until the Amended Official Certificate is received, and authorizing the Fiscal Officer to request an advance from the County Auditor. Further resolutions addressed continuing health care insurance benefits for officers and employees, establishing approval limits for equipment/supply purchases ($2500 threshold requiring meeting approval), and defining emergency expense authorization for the Fire Chief over $2500. The board also authorized the Fiscal Officer to expend up to $1000 in emergencies with reporting requirements, designated which employees/officials could use township credit cards, and assigned oversight roles for road maintenance/repair (Mr. Miller) and Fire Co. coordination (Mr. Cormican) for 2026. Administrative responsibilities for long-range planning and budget recommendations were assigned to Mr. Smith. Following the organizational session, expenditures totaling $77,453.04 for payroll/year-end checks from 2025 were approved. Reports included Fire Department activity (137 runs in December), Zoning activity (2 permits issued, denial status for two others, and updates on existing violations), and discussions tabled regarding the Mixed Use Overlay District fee structure and the 2026 mowing contract. The board also addressed upcoming meeting date adjustments due to holidays and an inquiry about the Township Hall gutter.

The special meeting included a public hearing concerning the recommendation from the Licking Township Zoning Commission to add the proposed Mixed Use Overlay District (MUOD) to Article 11 of the Zoning Resolution. Public comment addressed concerns regarding Accessory Dwelling Units, the allowance of 5-story buildings, and the urgency of the MUOD relative to other township areas. Following the public hearing, the Board adopted the Text Amendment for the MUOD. The Board also approved expenditures totaling $48,890.06. Correspondence was noted, including a holiday card and a public records response. The Zoning Inspector reported on two new permits issued (a pool and an accessory building) and provided updates on active zoning violations. The Board complimented the Road Department on snow removal efforts and noted the submission of the weight limit reduction list to the Engineer's Office. A letter was read thanking Trustee Holman for his service upon his retirement.