Ohio EPA reviewing Lawrence Township property near county well

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing a property on Welton Road Northeast near Sandy Hill Road in Lawrence Township. At the Jan. 8 meeting of the Lawrence Township Board of Trustees, Trustee Matt Ritterbeck said Mike Jones of the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Sewer District requested the EPA review.

Cleanup requests and orders issued by the township regarding the property date back at least to May 2020, and some progress has been made. However, a county water well pump house is located near the property, which is often littered with a good deal of scrap and rubbish.

Ritterbeck said there is currently no evidence of pollutants on the property. However, he said township officials will meet soon via Zoom with the Tuscarawas Metropolitan Sewer District, Ohio EPA and the health department to collaborate on any potential groundwater issues that may arise.

In other matters, a resident of French Hill Road asked for a permit check on a home being built next to his residence. The resident contacted the county health department and was told no septic permit had been issued for the property.

Zoning Inspector Ron Weekley said no permits of any kind had been issued to his knowledge. Weekley said he will check with the health department and the Tuscarawas County Planning Commission, formerly the Regional Planning Commission, and will issue a stop-work order to remain in effect until all appropriate permits have been secured.

Reports to the board included an update from Road Superintendent Perry Myers, who said he is measuring road mileage to prepare a paving bid request for the county engineer’s office and should have a complete list to present for approval at the next board meeting.

Myers also reported that a resident appears to be routinely using the trash bin near the River Park basketball courts to dump household trash. Myers said road crews have been picking up the overflow trash, but he now has the name and address of the resident leaving the trash. Myers said he will ask the sheriff’s office to contact the resident and request that the dumping stop, and he reminded residents the dumpster is only for people using the walking trail and the basketball courts.

Fiscal Officer Ann Ackerman reported receiving a property tax refund from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. Ackerman said she has questioned the accuracy of the district’s assessment charges for some time and the township has received refund checks for $58 and $182.

Ackerman also said she plans to meet with Scott Reynolds of Tuscarawas County Community and Economic Development regarding possible grant opportunities.

In additional business, Ackerman reported Trustees Donald Ackerman and Michael Haueter were sworn into office during a special work session Jan. 5. Both trustees were elected to four-year terms beginning Jan. 1.

The board approved entering into a maintenance agreement with Millersburg Electric for the liquid-cooled generator at a cost of $420 for a one-year period, including a 10-year warranty. The board also approved purchasing limestone for parking lots at the Lawrence Township River Park Trail along Wilkshire Boulevard and the basketball courts at a cost not to exceed $1,500.

The board approved a resolution to appropriate $4,087,735 for the fiscal year ending Dec. 26. The board also approved a resolution to pay trustees and the fiscal officer’s wages based on the annual budget and mileage reimbursement of 72.5 cents per mile for township employees conducting township business.

Trustees entered executive session to discuss potential new hires, then returned to open session and announced a conditional offer will be made to a potential new employee.

The Lawrence Township Board of Trustees meets the second and last Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Charles E. Lundenberger Hall, 10867 Industrial Parkway NW, Bolivar. All meetings are open to the public.