Zoning-related issues top trustees’ agenda

The Lawrence Township Board of Trustees addressed a number of zoning-related issues during its Dec. 26 meeting. Township resident Bobby Eddy asked the board if a zoning ordinance existed prohibiting cars from being parked along streets and roads for extensive periods of time.

Zoning Inspector Ron Weekley said as long as the tags are current and the vehicles do not appear to have been abandoned, there is really nothing the township can do. Weekley suggested contacting the county sheriff’s office as they may have the authority to make the owners move the vehicles.

Weekley said a property on Welton Road Northeast that has consistently violated numerous zoning regulations is being cleaned up.

“It was turned over to the county’s litter deputy, and Sheriff Campbell got involved, along with someone from the EPA because of the new water well that was drilled out there,” Weekley said. “He has receipts and can show he is actually doing the cleanup work.”

A zoning issue involving the teardown of a barn beside Vaughan’s Pub and Grill in Wilkshire Hills was addressed. According to Weekley, the owner had it torn down, but the company that performed the work left everything behind in huge piles. However, they have purchased an incinerator and are now burning a lot of the leftover material. Weekley said they had obtained the proper permits, and Bolivar Fire Chief Shawn Lynch is aware of the work taking place.

Interest shown in possible residential development

Jarod Lawver of Lawver Homes and realtor Jan McInturf showed trustees a preliminary proposal for a residential development near the top of the hill on Kerns Drive Northeast. Lawver said plans are in the very early stages and asked if trustees would agree to a tax increment financing arrangement with his company.

The area being eyed for development is zoned low density residential, meaning only single-family dwellings and accessory buildings such as detached garage and storage buildings are permitted.

While the township entered into such an agreement with Massarelli’s Mash Factory to build the baseball complex in Wilkshire Hills, trustees were in agreement they would need to see a more detailed proposal and seek the advice of the township’s attorney.

Road supervisor’s report

Perry Myers said while preparing the township’s equipment and vehicles for winter, he noticed the 2011 Ford F-250 truck has accumulated quite a bit of rust in the truck bed. Given the advanced state of the rust, Myers asked Parkway Ford in Dover for costs on a new model and also on an F-350.

Myers recommended purchasing the F-350.

“It has a heavier suspension, and we use the truck to pull the chipper and to haul mowers around, so it will get a lot of use,” Myers said.

Trustees tabled the matter but agreed to consider the recommendation.

Myers said he has noticed a lot of littering taking place along Wilkshire Boulevard recently and that the litter is primarily beer cans of the same brand. Myers said he and Cemetery Sextant Todd Reynolds have filled 50-gallon trash bags with the cans on two different occasions.

Board Chairman Matt Ritterbeck asked Myers to contact the county’s litter deputy to see what can be done to try to catch the person or persons who are leaving the trash behind.

Myers also told trustees he discovered someone is painting artwork on the state Route 212 bridge where the township’s walking trail goes underneath.

In other matters

After holding an executive session to discuss possible pay raises, trustees returned and approved the following pay increases: $1 per hour for Perry Myers, Todd Reynolds and Don Artzner and 75 cents per hour for Ron Weekley and Martina Mann.

Because trustees and staff will attend the Ohio Township Association Winter Conference in Columbus Jan. 29-31, the Jan. 30 board meeting will be held Monday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

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.