At the April 24 meeting of the Lawrence Township Board of Directors, Trustee Matt Ritterbeck thanked the Reeves Foundation for its grant of $38,000 to outfit the township building with a generator. He also thanked Martina Mann, administrative assistant, for all the work she put into obtaining the grant.
There are multiple reasons the township sought funding for a generator: it is one of only two polling places in the community, it serves as an outpost for the county sheriff’s office and trustees have said in the past it could be used as a warming station for residents during power outages.
Ritterbeck expressed gratitude to the Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department and Gail Garbrandt, former director of the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections, for their letters of support that helped secure the grant.
Ritterbeck also read the following to trustees and members of the public who were present. “I want to read this because I think it’s really cool,” he said. “Samuel J Reeves Jr., back in 1966, created the Reeves Foundation to support his wife Margaret and his two sisters, Helen and Jane. I found an article and I did the math, and they’ve given over $45 million to various nonprofit organizations since 1966. So thanks to all the board members that serve on that committee.”
Zoning news
Zoning Inspector Ron Weekley said the owner of the Lawver Construction office building on state Route 212 will plant trees behind the building in compliance with zoning regulations that require a buffer between the building and the residential area behind it.
Ritterbeck asked Weekley if the owner is allowed temporary construction access off the state route instead of from Kerns Drive. Weekley said they were not granted a permit for that, and he would check into how trucks are accessing the site.
Trustee Don Ackerman said the board wanted to ask residents to keep signs under control, particularly signs for the community garage sale. The township has already placed large signs for the event at key intersections like the entrance to Kerns Drive.
Weekley said residents are welcome to place signage on their own lawns, but any signs placed on township property will be removed per zoning regulations.
In an ongoing matter, Weekley said he is still working on the updated mapping of Wilkshire Hills, but technology issues are slowing down progress at this point.
Board Chairman Mike Haueter mentioned a driveway permit update, saying he wanted Weekley and the rest of the board to review it and suggest any necessary revisions before the next meeting.
It was mentioned the township may have approved a resolution in the past regarding driveway standards that are close to the county standards but with a few deviations. Mann will look for it and report back to trustees.
Roads
Road Supervisor Perry Myers reported fixing a sinkhole that occurred April 22 on Northwood Avenue. He said the road crew also is performing berming work in preparation for upcoming chip and seal work.
