Chester Government Update
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on March 7 began with the approval of minutes, followed by an update by Chester Township Administrator Mark Purchase on the Cedar Road speed study...
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on March 7 began with the approval of minutes, followed by an update by Chester Township Administrator Mark Purchase on the Cedar Road speed study. The Geauga County Engineer’s Office did a study along the entire length of Cedar Road between Sperry and County Line roads. The average speed was 42 mph. The currently posted signs are 45 mph between Sperry Road and state Route 306 and 35 mph between state Route 306 and County Line Road.
In an effort to reduce overall speed and improve safety, the board agreed that the recommendation to align both sections of Cedar Road with a 40-mph limit is the best option versus doing nothing or having the state potentially assign 45 mph to the entire road. An additional traffic study was also requested by the township for Valley View Road.
Two policies were approved and added to the township policy manual dealing with worker’s compensation and on the job injury.
An after-the-fact purchase order in the amount of $25,000 was approved for the purchase of a 2004 International bucket truck, which will enable the road department to improve tree maintenance efficiency along the road right-of-way. Safety training will be scheduled for the crew before it is put into service.
A purchase order of $1,348 was approved for Mighty Ducts, Inc. to clean the air ducts at the police department. Camera images show significant buildup of dust, so the cleaning should help improve indoor air quality. The board also approved the purchase of two AED units for $4,472.64 from Cardio Partners, Inc. for the police department.
The board also accepted the resignations of Kelly Paulic and Robert Rowland. Trustees thank them for their service to the township. The township also approved a motion to advertise in the Maple Leaf, Chesterland News and Geauga Times Courier to fill the administrative assistant position, with applications due at Chester Town Hall by 4 p.m. on April 1. For more information, email Mark Purchase at mpurchaseTA@chestertwp.org.
A motion was approved to accept the NOPEC Energized Community Grant. The township will be receiving $23,039 in 2024 for energy conservation improvements.
Monies were approved to Sean C. Day for the maintenance of garbage cans, picnic tables and restrooms along with general cleanup of Parkside Park for 2024 in the amount not to exceed $8,175. Mr. Day has been performing the service to the township for a number of years.
Trustees also briefly discussed the ongoing IT transition project, Wreaths Across America/Revolutionary War Veterans and West Geauga Unity Day, which is Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
At the end of the meeting, an executive session was held and upon returning to the public meeting, a motion to increase the non-bargaining administrative personnel’s contribution to the health insurance premium from 10% to 15% was passed and the meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by Ken Radtke Jr., Chester Township Trustee
