Maple Hill Cemetery to get roadway repair
Martha Catherwood
HINCKLEY – The access road leading to and inside the Maple Hill Cemetery will be chip-sealed this year using a line item in the township’s general fund to pay for the project. Trustees agreed that the $4,594 price tag for the project “was a good opportunity to get a needed project done.”
At the Aug. 21 township meeting, Road Supervisor Darren Newcomer said he had been researching the project and that since Karvo Paving Co. was already doing paving projects in the township it would be a good opportunity to get the work done.
Township Fiscal Officer Martha Catherwood explained the township shouldn’t take the funds out of the cemetery fund because the township had already spent $11,000 in cemetery funds in less than 24 months. She said the only way the cemetery fund is supplied is through the sale of lots and cemetery footers.
“When Newcomer sent me the email about the project, I said maybe we can find a line item in the general fund to pay for the project,” said Catherwood. “I said it could possibly come out of our general fund line item tagged site improvements.”
Trustee chairman Ray Schulte said the township couldn’t repair the road in Maple Hill Cemetery last year because the township had a big expense removing many fallen trees due to inclement weather, including inside township cemeteries.
“I think we should take the funds out of the general fund line item for site improvements,” said Schulte. “I think we need to take care of our cemeteries and take full advantage of a good price. We could have other priorities next year.”
Both Trustees Dave Sambor and Melissa Augustine agreed that the price for the work was good and that using the site improvement line item in the general fund would be a good way to get the work done.
In other business
• Trustees accepted the resignation of fire department Lt. Karl Kuhn, a 14-year veteran of the Hinckley Fire Department. In his letter of resignation, Kuhn thanked trustees and members of the township fire department saying “the township will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Catherwood commented, “I’ve never met anyone who was more devoted to this township. It is a tremendous loss.”
Fire Chief Morgan said he is working on a “reorganization of command” for the fire department and in the meantime he has assigned fire fighter Rick Moskalski acting officer/B shift commander.
• Morgan gave the monthly report for July with highlights as follows: total incidents – 52; EMS incidents – 34; fire incidents — 18; total incidents year to date – 406. The average response time for when the fire station is staffed (8 a.m. – 6 p.m.) for June was 7 minutes and 45 seconds; the average response time during non-staffed (on call) hours was 14 minutes and 50 seconds; overlapping calls (on call staffed called in due to regular staff already on a site) for July – 6; mutual aid given for July -7; mutual aid received for July – 5; mutual aid given year to date – 44; mutual aid received year to date – 19; occupancy inspections completed for June – 22. Morgan pointed out the number of mutual aids as evidence “of how departments have come to rely on one another due to increased call volume.”
• Morgan explained a new app all firefighters have on their phones and iPads. The app provides such information as how many firefighters are responding to a call, where the emergency call is located as well as directions to the site. In addition, when there is a fire call, the app provides distance from the street to the home or emergency site. Morgan added only 30 percent of the township has fire hydrants and in other cases water trucks with hoses are used and that this information is extremely helpful in knowing how to place water tankers.
• Schulte thanked the Hinckley 4-H for donation of a tree placed between Kobak ball fields I and ll and the Hinckley Garden Club for the rain garden at the Hinckley Historical Society building. He also thanked resident Mark Pribish for mowing work at the River Woods Nature Preserve which Schulte said “makes it more accessible for our residents to use.”
• Schulte said trustees are continuing to work with Dan Becker from the Medina County Engineer’s office is prioritizing road paving work in conjunction with the township application for a grant/loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission. Schulte said the application work needs to be finalized in September. Sambor added that if the township receives the $400,000, 0 percent interest loan “it will help us repair larger sections of roadway at one time.”
• Catherwood recommended that the township switch insurance providers from Aetna to Medical Mutual. Schulte said that the switch to Medical Mutual provides township employees with more options for health care providers.
At the Aug. 21 township meeting, Road Supervisor Darren Newcomer said he had been researching the project and that since Karvo Paving Co. was already doing paving projects in the township it would be a good opportunity to get the work done.
Township Fiscal Officer Martha Catherwood explained the township shouldn’t take the funds out of the cemetery fund because the township had already spent $11,000 in cemetery funds in less than 24 months. She said the only way the cemetery fund is supplied is through the sale of lots and cemetery footers.
“When Newcomer sent me the email about the project, I said maybe we can find a line item in the general fund to pay for the project,” said Catherwood. “I said it could possibly come out of our general fund line item tagged site improvements.”
Trustee chairman Ray Schulte said the township couldn’t repair the road in Maple Hill Cemetery last year because the township had a big expense removing many fallen trees due to inclement weather, including inside township cemeteries.
“I think we should take the funds out of the general fund line item for site improvements,” said Schulte. “I think we need to take care of our cemeteries and take full advantage of a good price. We could have other priorities next year.”
Both Trustees Dave Sambor and Melissa Augustine agreed that the price for the work was good and that using the site improvement line item in the general fund would be a good way to get the work done.
In other business
• Trustees accepted the resignation of fire department Lt. Karl Kuhn, a 14-year veteran of the Hinckley Fire Department. In his letter of resignation, Kuhn thanked trustees and members of the township fire department saying “the township will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Catherwood commented, “I’ve never met anyone who was more devoted to this township. It is a tremendous loss.”
Fire Chief Morgan said he is working on a “reorganization of command” for the fire department and in the meantime he has assigned fire fighter Rick Moskalski acting officer/B shift commander.
• Morgan gave the monthly report for July with highlights as follows: total incidents – 52; EMS incidents – 34; fire incidents — 18; total incidents year to date – 406. The average response time for when the fire station is staffed (8 a.m. – 6 p.m.) for June was 7 minutes and 45 seconds; the average response time during non-staffed (on call) hours was 14 minutes and 50 seconds; overlapping calls (on call staffed called in due to regular staff already on a site) for July – 6; mutual aid given for July -7; mutual aid received for July – 5; mutual aid given year to date – 44; mutual aid received year to date – 19; occupancy inspections completed for June – 22. Morgan pointed out the number of mutual aids as evidence “of how departments have come to rely on one another due to increased call volume.”
• Morgan explained a new app all firefighters have on their phones and iPads. The app provides such information as how many firefighters are responding to a call, where the emergency call is located as well as directions to the site. In addition, when there is a fire call, the app provides distance from the street to the home or emergency site. Morgan added only 30 percent of the township has fire hydrants and in other cases water trucks with hoses are used and that this information is extremely helpful in knowing how to place water tankers.
• Schulte thanked the Hinckley 4-H for donation of a tree placed between Kobak ball fields I and ll and the Hinckley Garden Club for the rain garden at the Hinckley Historical Society building. He also thanked resident Mark Pribish for mowing work at the River Woods Nature Preserve which Schulte said “makes it more accessible for our residents to use.”
• Schulte said trustees are continuing to work with Dan Becker from the Medina County Engineer’s office is prioritizing road paving work in conjunction with the township application for a grant/loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission. Schulte said the application work needs to be finalized in September. Sambor added that if the township receives the $400,000, 0 percent interest loan “it will help us repair larger sections of roadway at one time.”
• Catherwood recommended that the township switch insurance providers from Aetna to Medical Mutual. Schulte said that the switch to Medical Mutual provides township employees with more options for health care providers.