Thursday, November 17, 2005
The township will discuss whether to continue cardboard recycling.
By MARY R. SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township has seen a $22,000 increase in revenues this year from sale of cemetery plots after opening a new section of Kerr Cemetery in efforts that took more than a year to complete.
Township Clerk David Rouhan told trustees this week that additional revenue is "great news."
The new section was opened June 1, township administrator David Pugh said, and any new income can only be used mainly for upkeep of the cemetery. Pugh said the township can expect an increase in revenues for probably another six or seven months.
Trustees approved a two-year extension of their contract with the Trumbull-Geauga Waste Management Services from January 2006 through January 2008.
Trustee Chairman Fred Bobovnyk said trustees will discuss later whether they will continue to pay about $65 a month for cardboard recycling after the Waste Management District discontinued offering it this fall because of budget cuts.
Bobovnyk said the township will likely continue to pay for the cardboard recycling at the township administration building because there seems to be a need for it. However, he is hopeful the state will increase the Waste Management District's budget next year to allow them to once again pay for the service.
Fire District Fund shrinks
Fire Chief Randy Pugh told trustees that the balance in the Fire District Fund is dwindling rapidly. The fund, which has annual revenue of about $273,000, finances all of the township-paid portion of the fire department, not including financial assistance from Mineral Ridge or McKinley Heights.
He said it was a shame the fund was tapped to pay for costs associated with installing new fire hydrants.
David Pugh explained later that the fire department usually replaces about 10 fire hydrants a year, but this year has a more aggressive plan to replace 25 fire hydrants.
He said township officials are investigating the possibility of having the water suppliers to the hydrants pay for the replacement, which is done in other local communities.
David Pugh added that the fire hydrants were originally put in by the township fire department. He added "Some think the fire department should pay for it, others do it differently."
Bobovnyk said Chief Pugh has presented trustees with a list of fire hydrants that need to be replaced and the township may seek bids for new hydrants. Trustees also will look at buying the hydrants themselves to save money instead of using a company to make the purchases.
Further discussion on the purchase will take place by the December meeting, which has been moved to Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. Trustees caucus will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 14.