Brownhelm Township Board of Trustees met for a regular meeting on Monday, November 6. The following is from the unapproved minutes of that meeting.
Zoning updates: Zoning inspector John Schmalz submitted 4 permits, 1 home and 3 barns. J Schmalz sent a courtesy letter to a Heritage Way property owner about high grass. A resident on Claus Rd complained about a neighbor putting up a snow fence; this is not a zoning violation, but may be a deed restriction which is not controlled by the township. Trustee Northeim noted that there is a resident at 49655 Middle Ridge Rd who is concerned with any new construction on the north side of Middle Ridge Rd, because of drainage issues on the south side of the road; J Schmalz will check on this.
Labor update: Labor supervisor Scott Schmalz reported that the Baumhart & Middle Ridge intersection has been opened. The road work on Mapleview is nearing completion. The backhoe has had major repairs with fuel pumps, injection pump, and belts and hoses. Schmalz will mulch around the new BHA sign in front of the school. The Brownhelm Lakefront Park’s garbage can has been broken and since the garbage can has been there people are now dropping off their own garbage. There are two dead trees by the township soccer field; Owens quoted $1650 to take down the trees and remove the wood, EcoTree quoted $2450 for the same work. Schmalz wants to wait until the ground freezes before the heavy trucks drive in this area. Township is still waiting for the specs from the Lorain County Engineer’s office for the crossover pipe at the south end of Claus Road.
Grant money: Orrin Leimbach made a motion that the township use its remaining $380 grant from the Lorain County Solid Waste District to purchase additional insulated bags for Brownhelm Christmas. . The motion was approved by all three trustees.
Zoning positions: Concerning the open positions on the Zoning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals, Trustee Northeim talked with David Miller and he wants to remain on the Zoning Commission and Jeff Hoopes has agreed to remain on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Shawn Cline, a current alternate on the ZBA, and Greg Butchko, a current alternate on the Zoning Commission would be open to filling any of the open positions. These positions will be appointed at a later date.
The Lorain County Engineer’s office is working on specifications for SWAC projects for Baumhart Rd and the hillside at the south end of Gore Orphanage.
Upcoming projects: Trustee Northeim explained that the township meeting hall has some major structural issues that need addressed as soon as possible. There is major rot under about 60% of the building at the south end. This is the oldest part of the building and was not built on a slab as is the other 40% at the north end. He has met with contractors and a mold inspector about the steps to correct this issue.
Leimbach made a motion to approve a contract, as presented in an estimate, with Loosli Construction at a cost of $25000 for tearing out the existing joists, pouring a slab, rebuilding an existing bathroom, installing a new front door and painting the interior. Nieding seconded the motion. During a discussion, it was noted that there was a need to grant one trustee authority to handle the execution of contract documents between meetings. Leimbach withdrew his motion was seconded and approved a\by all three trustees. He then represented the motion, but included giving trustee Jim Northeim the authority to execute any documents for this contract. The second motion was approved.
Leimbach made a motion to approve a contract with Dutch’s Mold Inspections at a cost of $5400 to handle the removal and disposal of flooring, cabinetry, and bathroom and inspect remaining drywall and apply an EPA approved microbial sanitizer with the township supplying the needed dumpster and to give Trustee Jim Northeim the authority to execute any documents for this contract. The motion was passed.
Leimbach made a motion to approve a contract with Strittmather & Sons to remove the existing furnace and install a new 80% efficient furnace and install a new air conditioner, per estimate, at a total cost of $6290 and to give Trustee Jim Northeim the authority to execute any documents for this contract. Nieding seconded the motion. This motion was approved.
Leimbach made a motion giving Trustee Jim Northeim a $3000 allowance for contract changes without getting prior approval, which was approved.
Leimbach made a motion approving an estimate from Owens Tree Service at a cost of $1650 to take down the trees by the soccer field and remove the wood. The township would immediately want the broken limbs removed and then the remaining parts of the trees to be removed as soon as the ground permits, which was passed.
Additional motions: Leimbach made a motion accepting a three-year fire contract with the Village of South Amherst at a cost of $27,315.52 for 2018, $28,408.12 for 2019, and $29544.44 for 2020. Leimbach made a motion authorizing the township to set up a Facebook account for outgoing information only, with all proposed posts requiring approval from the township body responsible for the posts’ information prior to its entry on Facebook. Northeim made a motion appointing Ron Mate to another four-year term on the Northern Ohio Rural Water Board beginning December 1, 2017. Leimbach made a motion approving the Fiscal Officer’s request to the Lorain County Auditor asking for an amended certificate of estimate resources with an increase in appropriations of $17,000 in the Equipment Reserve Fund. Each motion was voted on an approved by the trustees.
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