Free yard waste service will end after 2025
During its Feb. 29 meeting, the Lawrence Township Board of Trustees announced the free yard waste composting service offered to township residents for approximately 15 years will be discontinued after Dec. 31, 2025.
According to board chairman Matt Ritterbeck, a meeting was held Feb. 21 at the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Recycling District when officials from around the county were told the district would no longer provide funding for the service.
During that meeting David Held, executive director for the district, was issued a directive to discontinue funding any service that is not required by the Ohio EPA, and collecting yard waste for composting is not required.
Fiscal officer Ann Ackerman, who attended the meeting, said there’s no argument to be had about discontinuation of the service because, according to the Ohio Revised Code, the district does not have to provide composting service.
According to Ackerman, the district said townships that previously received funding for composting programs have moved to systems that charge residents.
Ackerman further said the township does not have the funds to continue a free residential program after 2025, with the only option being to set up a gate and card reader for a user-paid system. Trustees agreed to look into possible solutions.
Proposed state legislation addressed
Jodi Salvo addressed trustees regarding her candidacy for Ohio state representative for District 51. Ritterbeck asked Salvo to look into two proposed legislative measures currently making their way through the state house.
According to Ritterbeck, one measure that’s in committee at the moment would take away the ability of townships to zone their own communities and instead drive zoning from the state level. The other issue is HB344, which eliminates the ability of townships to put replacement tax levies on the ballot.
Ritterbeck said if replacement levies were taken away at the township level, a number of services including road and bridge maintenance, the Commons Pool, and fire protection could be negatively impacted.
The reason for replacement levies is to allow entities such as the township to renew an existing levy at the same millage but generate more dollars by taking account of changing property values, whether higher or lower.
In other business
Mike Haueter reported he and Ackerman had met with Fire Chief Shawn Lynch and Patrick Eddy, president of the fire board, regarding the 2024 township fire contract. Haueter said the funding amount is $777,089. Trustees approved the contract.
Lynch provided information to the board on completed inspections and staffing. He said the staffing goal is to have four people on duty 24/7.
Chuck McNutt, road supervisor, said he is making preparations for a smooth transition upon his retirement on March 28, at which point Perry Myers, the assistant road supervisor, will take over as road supervisor.
Myers issued a reminder that all grave decorations in the Fort Laurens Cemetery must be removed by March 15 each year.
Zoning inspector Ron Weekley said he spoke with the person in charge of the Wilkshire Hills garage sales that take place each year in May. She told him instead of placing multiple signs, she will place a large banner sign at the intersection of Kerns Drive and state Route 212. Trustees voted to waive the sign fee, as is the custom for the annual event. Weekley said he would make sure the sign does not hinder driver visibility.
Ritterbeck said the township was recently turned down for grants sought for the purchases of a Bobcat utility vehicle and a generator for the township building to use during power outages. Ritterbeck recommended tabling the Bobcat purchase and seeking a mix of grant funding for the generator, with the township paying 20% of the cost, but no action was taken.
The Lawrence Township Board of Trustees meets the second and last Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Charles E. Lundenberger Hall, 10867 Industrial Parkway NW, Bolivar. All meetings are open to the public.
