Committee to create new trash policy
Montville Township hoping to launch curbside recycling program
Photo by GLENN WOJCIAK This architect’s drawing indicates the type of building Montville Township plans to build to house a coffee shop and storage facility at Austin Badger Park.
MONTVILLE – Township trustees will soon find out if they are to receive a $250,000 grant to improve trash collection and recycling and are beginning to form a committee of citizens and township officials to determine how to best utilize the money.
Trustees voted in January to submit the grant application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which offers community development grants for programs like the one being considered in Montville.
Beth Biggins-Ramer, Medina County’s solid waste coordinator, told township trustees the grant money could be used to purchase carts township residents could use for their trash and recyclables which would be picked up at the curb.
A new trash and curbside recycling program would also presume one hauler would be awarded a contract to pick up all the residential trash in the township. Montville residents now have the freedom to select their own trash hauler and five different companies operate in the township offering various levels of services.
However, a few residents have already expressed concerns about having their choice of trash haulers eliminated by a new township policy. With that in mind, Trustee Sally Albrecht said she is seeking people to help write bid specifications for trash haulers that would satisfy the most Montville residents.
If Montville receives the grant, township officials would then have to seek bids from potential haulers to provide the new service. “We can write the bid specs anyway we want,” said Albrecht. “Whatever services people want, we can put that in the specifications.”
Albrecht has been reviewing trash and recycling policies in other communities and said the program offered in Norton is a good starting point for Montville. Norton offers its residents the choice of three levels of service including one that allows for the regular disposal of large bulky items. It all offers special services for the elderly and disabled.
Biggins-Ramer said similar trash and curbside recycling programs are in place in other northeast Ohio communities that are about the same size as Montville. Residential customers in those towns pay $15-$18 per month for trash and recycling pickup. Montville residents now pay nearly double that in some parts of the township.
Biggins-Ramer said a new trash and recycling policy also offers other benefits to the township. Among them are reducing the number of days trash is placed in front of houses each week and limiting the number of trucks that come down a street.
Park proposal
Township trustees gave their approval to a preliminary plan for a new building that would hold a coffee shop and equipment rental desk for bicycles and other sports gear next to the parking lot at Austin Badger Park. Their approval gave architect Michael Kaminsky authority to prepare more detailed plans for submission to the Medina County Building Department.
Zoning Inspector Paul Jeffers said it is hoped the plans can be approved in a few weeks and construction on the project can begin by the end of May.
The plan for the new building was proposed by Intervention for Peace Director David Clardy who told township trustees he wants to open a facility similar to the Spokes Café his organization opened in Medina. The shop will employ adults with developmental disabilities.
Clardy’s original proposal was to place the coffee shop in an abandoned restroom and storage building used when the property was part of the Blue Heron Golf Course. Township officials, however, determined rebuilding the pole building on an adjoining site would be preferable to rehabilitating the flood-damaged structure.
Clardy told township trustees his organization would use donations and volunteer labor to turn the new township building into a business that sold coffee and snacks and rented bicycles and other sports gear. Township workers will also provide some manpower to prepare the foundation and do other site improvements.
LST bill
Township trustees authorized payment of $15,917 to Medina Hospital for emergency ambulance service in January. The bill is based on 35 emergency calls made by Montville residents and businesses to the Life Support Team that month.
Trustees voted in January to submit the grant application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which offers community development grants for programs like the one being considered in Montville.
Beth Biggins-Ramer, Medina County’s solid waste coordinator, told township trustees the grant money could be used to purchase carts township residents could use for their trash and recyclables which would be picked up at the curb.
A new trash and curbside recycling program would also presume one hauler would be awarded a contract to pick up all the residential trash in the township. Montville residents now have the freedom to select their own trash hauler and five different companies operate in the township offering various levels of services.
However, a few residents have already expressed concerns about having their choice of trash haulers eliminated by a new township policy. With that in mind, Trustee Sally Albrecht said she is seeking people to help write bid specifications for trash haulers that would satisfy the most Montville residents.
If Montville receives the grant, township officials would then have to seek bids from potential haulers to provide the new service. “We can write the bid specs anyway we want,” said Albrecht. “Whatever services people want, we can put that in the specifications.”
Albrecht has been reviewing trash and recycling policies in other communities and said the program offered in Norton is a good starting point for Montville. Norton offers its residents the choice of three levels of service including one that allows for the regular disposal of large bulky items. It all offers special services for the elderly and disabled.
Biggins-Ramer said similar trash and curbside recycling programs are in place in other northeast Ohio communities that are about the same size as Montville. Residential customers in those towns pay $15-$18 per month for trash and recycling pickup. Montville residents now pay nearly double that in some parts of the township.
Biggins-Ramer said a new trash and recycling policy also offers other benefits to the township. Among them are reducing the number of days trash is placed in front of houses each week and limiting the number of trucks that come down a street.
Park proposal
Township trustees gave their approval to a preliminary plan for a new building that would hold a coffee shop and equipment rental desk for bicycles and other sports gear next to the parking lot at Austin Badger Park. Their approval gave architect Michael Kaminsky authority to prepare more detailed plans for submission to the Medina County Building Department.
Zoning Inspector Paul Jeffers said it is hoped the plans can be approved in a few weeks and construction on the project can begin by the end of May.
The plan for the new building was proposed by Intervention for Peace Director David Clardy who told township trustees he wants to open a facility similar to the Spokes Café his organization opened in Medina. The shop will employ adults with developmental disabilities.
Clardy’s original proposal was to place the coffee shop in an abandoned restroom and storage building used when the property was part of the Blue Heron Golf Course. Township officials, however, determined rebuilding the pole building on an adjoining site would be preferable to rehabilitating the flood-damaged structure.
Clardy told township trustees his organization would use donations and volunteer labor to turn the new township building into a business that sold coffee and snacks and rented bicycles and other sports gear. Township workers will also provide some manpower to prepare the foundation and do other site improvements.
LST bill
Township trustees authorized payment of $15,917 to Medina Hospital for emergency ambulance service in January. The bill is based on 35 emergency calls made by Montville residents and businesses to the Life Support Team that month.