Chester Government Update
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 5 began with a presentation by a local Eagle Scout candidate regarding a potential project in Chester...
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 5 began with a presentation by a local Eagle Scout candidate regarding a potential project in Chester. The project related to adding fish habitats to a town pond and possibly adding some signage. The trustees shared support for the project, which allows the young man to seek approval and then begin fundraising for his project.
Trustees heard from community members regarding a potential unsafe property and discussed options for addressing the matter. Township Administrator Mark Purchase was tasked with moving forward several action items related to the matter.
There was a discussion about mailbox reimbursement related to plow damage. The township’s practice has been to offer to provide and install a standard mailbox to replace mailboxes damaged by a township plow, but some residents have requested payment instead. These residents may prefer to install custom mailboxes or posts rather than the standard mailbox provided. The board agreed $150 is a reasonable allowance in these circumstances if a resident elects reimbursement instead of having a standard mailbox installed by the road department. The board then approved two such reimbursements.
At the request of the road department and Mark Purchase, the board considered and approved changing the job title for job description 12.32 from administrative assistant/cemetery sexton to administrative assistant/cemetery coordinator. The rest of the job description remains the same.
Trustees approved the extension of a condition offer of employment to Timothy Staley Jr. for the position of full-time police officer, which is a replacement for a departing officer. They then conducted other administrative activities, including approval of payments and purchase orders.
Trustee Ken Radtke provided an update on Geauga County Planning Commission efforts related to the county farmland preservation efforts. Trustees approved the creation of a letter of support to the Geauga County Planning Commission for its application to the Ohio Department of Agriculture Land Use Planning Grant, which seeks to update the Geauga County Farmland Preservation Plan.
Trustee Brandon Davis presented status of several activities he has been actively leading, including America250 planning, an open for business campaign and formalizing township outside counsel engagement. Trustee Craig Richter provided an update on the trustees’ request for a joint meeting with the Geauga Park Board and the current planning and status of that effort.
There was discussion regarding the current road department funding and budget and the need to continue to investigate long-term funding options for the road department.
The board entered executive session to discuss public employee(s) matters.
Submitted by Brandon Davis, Chester Township Trustee
