Thursday, March 29, 2001
Trustees approved a new three-year contract with the township's volunteer fire department.
BY REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- A handful of residents concerned about a proposal to alleviate traffic problems along state Route 46 near Raglan Drive are breathing easier today after a public hearing Wednesday.
The proposal to realign Raglan Drive with King Graves Road and create a four-way traffic light had residents concerned when officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation first presented it at a public hearing in February.
Some residents said then that the project would cause Raglan Road to run too close to their homes.
Raglan and King Graves intersect Route 46 about 100 yards apart. Both are three-way intersections. Township officials said last month the plan to realign Raglan with King Graves was necessary because of a history of traffic accidents at that location.
Alternative plan: At Wednesday's hearing, ODOT officials told about 25 residents that an alternative traffic plan is now being developed based on the residential concerns expressed in February.
Although ODOT officials gave no specifics about the alternative plan, they promised to give details about the plan at another public hearing that will be scheduled in a few months.
Township Administrator John Emanuel said this morning that residents are satisfied ODOT intends to work to accommodate their needs.
"People's concerns weren't for the project, but rather how it was designed. I think now people are breathing easier," he said.
Fire contract: In other matters, trustees approved a new three-year contract with the township's volunteer fire department that provides $25,000 annually for new equipment.
Emanuel said about 22 volunteers assist the township's 22 full-time and 20 part-time firefighters. The volunteers receive no pay.
"We really have the best of both worlds. These volunteers are really dedicated, and we couldn't afford their service full time. It's great because we can get 50 or 60 people to turn out in an emergency," he said.
Emanuel said volunteers have been instrumental to the department for several years, and in 2000 they responded to about 200 emergency calls.
The new contract expires March 2004.