Vermilion Township passes marijuana ban, hears fire department update

The Vermilion Township Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 18. The following are from the unapproved minutes of that meeting.

Upcoming election: The trustees received a Letter dated October 4, 2017 from Jon Husted, Ohio Secretary of State discussing the upcoming November 7, 2017 General Election.  Ohio voters will decide a number of local issues and races.  Ohioans will also vote on two statewide ballot issues:  Issue 1 – Proposed Constitutional Amendment, Rights for Crime Victims; Issue 2 – Proposed Law, To require state agencies to not pay more for prescription drugs than the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and require state payment of attorney fees and expenses to specific individuals for defense of the law.  The 2017 State Issues Report, which includes the official ballot language, explanation, arguments for and against, and the full text of the issues, is posted at www.OhioSecretaryofState.gov (click on the “know the Statewide Issues” button at the bottom of the home page).

Detox unit: The trustees also received a letter from The Erie County Health Department and the Erie County Community Health Center inviting them to attend an open house for the new detoxification unit on Friday, November 17, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 420 Superior Street in Sandusky.

Building/zoning updates: Building Official/Zoning Administrator, Robert Kurtz, reported the Road Crew is attending a free OSHA training this morning at Perkins Township. Mr. Kurtz presented and discussed preliminary plans for the new township garage building.

Fire department update: Fire chief Frank Triana reported that between October 1 and October 17, they had 17 EMS assists. He also thanked everyone who came out to their last pancake breakfast.

The department conducted fire extinguisher training for the staff at Kingston Assisted Living on Tuesday, October 17. Triana also reported that One (1) Scott Air-Pak was taken out of service and sent out for repair.  The Pass Alarm which is an internal alarm that sounds when a firefighter is motionless for 30 seconds has a circuit board failure.  The unit should be back in service next week. Further, he is waiting on two more quotes for the exhaust removal system and will then be presented for discussion to the trustees for the Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) grant.

Marijuana ban: building official and zoning administrator Robert Kurtz, informed the Board a motion was made last meeting to prohibit the cultivating, processing, and retail dispensaries in Vermilion Township for medical marijuana.  The actual resolution, which was forwarded to the township, by the Erie County Prosecutor’s Office has been prepared and is ready to be passed. A motion was presented and passed authorizing to prohibit cultivators, processors, and retail dispensaries in the unincorporated territory of Vermilion Township.

Project permission: Mr. Kurtz reported that a resident located at 924 Barnes Road has a failing septic system, in which the Health Department is requesting the system be replaced.  The resident will need to drain his ground water perimeter tile into the township’s tile and is requesting Board approval. A motion was presented and approved for this request.

Mandatory training: Trustee Trinter has been working with Fiscal Officer, Brenda Zsebik to satisfy a requirement for 2-hours of safety training regarding the township’s group worker’s compensation designation which must be completed by the end of the year.