The-Press-News.com - Osnaburg Trustees talk about road work

By DONNA ROBINSON

The Press-News

OSNABURG TWP. -- During the regular meeting on Monday night of the board of trustees, discussion was on road work and the cost of asphalt.

Township Trustees expressed concern with the cost of asphalt for the road work. Ray Sprung, from Tri-County Asphalt attended the township meeting on Monday night to explain why the cost of asphalt has gone up from $42 to $65 per ton. He expressed his own shocked with this huge increase.

Township Trustee Richard Pero informed Sprung the township has a contract with his company, that requires Tri-County to give a 30-day notice of any increase in price. Sprung, said he was aware of this agreement, and his company was given only a two-day notice of the increase from their supplier. He said he would not be able to fill any orders at the reduced price, but he would honor the last order at the original price, and his company would absorb the loss.

After discussion, road superintendent Aaron Saurer said he has other projects to work on and would not require any asphalt at this time.

Trustees discussed whether to put asphalt down on Cindell Street, which is the brick part of the historic Lincoln Highway). Sections of the brick road are in desperate need of repair, but another section seems to be holding up extremely well, Saurer commented.

Trustee Donna Middaugh said she would like to try to find grants to restore this section of road. She said possibly the old bricks could be taken up, a new foundation put in and then the bricks replaced. The estimated cost would be $46,000.

Pero said pulling up the brick and replacing them on top of cement might take away the historical value of the road. Saurer suggested removing the bricks on the section of Cindell that is in poor shape and saving the bricks to do something with later, and then blacktopping that section.

Middaugh said she will contact U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula's office to ask about funding for the historic landmark.

In fire department news, the trustees learned that Valerie Saurer completed her physical, background check and department physical agility test and will be appointed to the position of probationary cadet. The trustees also heard captain Bart Miller, captain Amy Parker and firefighter Nessa Collins completed and passed their 240-Hour Firefighter II Course. Adams said this makes them eligible for reimbursement for the training.

He informed the trustees that firefighter Jeff Phelps has requested a 30-day leave starting Aug. 11, and the request was approved.

Adams reported on the activity of the fire department in the last month. The activity included the following calls: five basic life support, 15 assisted life support, nine fire and rescue, one run turned over to Nimishillen Township and one medic assist to Canton City for the Football Hall of Fame activities.

In other matters, the trustees:

* HEARD the Middaugh had met with Canton city representatives to discuss several issues about the Cooperative Economic Development Agreement;

* VOTED to appoint John Arnold to serve on the 911 Countywide planning committee;

* RECEIVED from Carl Anthony $587.50 in cemetery fees;

* HEARD Zoning Inspector Dorothy Bucher report on several properties in the township, including 6534 Mapleton Street, which has continued to improve; 2515 Klotz, which is going through foreclosure;

* HEARD trustee Pero asked fire chief Dan Adams if the fire department might be able to burn the house on Klotz if needed, and Adams said it would be possible;

* HEARD Adams asked the trustees for permission to scrap old couplings from failed hoses and permission to auction outdated equipment on Ebay; both request were granted;

* HEARD annual hose testing will be conducted next week.