The Miami Township Board of Trustees met in regular session Tuesday, August 19, 1997 at 8:00 PM at the Miami Township Civic Building. Chairperson Jean Schmidt called the meeting to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was given. Miami Township Clerk, Eric C. Ferry is on vacation, so Mr. Uecker made a motion to appoint David Duckworth as acting clerk for the purpose of recording the minutes of this meeting. Mr. Humphrey seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE". Mr. Duckworth called the roll. In attendance were Jean Schmidt, Edwin H. Humphrey and Joseph W. Uecker.
Mr. Humphrey made a motion to approve the July 29, 1997 Board of Trustees meeting minutes as presented. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Miami Township Police Chief, R. Steven Bailey presented Mr. Rob Kattenbach of 5771 Tall Oaks Drive an award of Meritorious Service for the rescue of an infant child from imminent drowning on July 13, 1997.
Chief Bailey presented Sergeant Ed Schmid with a Meritorious Service Citation for service beyond the call of duty on the recommendation of Fire/EMS Chief Jim Whitworth.
Chief Bailey presented Employee of the Month awards as follows;
February 1997 Lt. Daryl Poe
March 1997 Chief Steven Bailey (Presented by Sgt. Al Fatute)
April 1997 Officer Steven Burgess
May 1997 Records Clerk Supervisor Jennifer Heideman
June 1997 Officer Kevin Petrocelli
July 1997 Officer Kevin Petrocelli
Chief Bailey administered the Oath of Office to new Miami Township Police Officer Brett Simon.
Assistant Chief Harold Thiele presented the July 1997 Fire/EMS Department Report.
Planning and Zoning Director Larry Fronk presented the July 1997 Zoning Department Report.
Police Chief Steven Bailey gave the Police Department Report for July 1997.
Service Director, Walter Fischer presented the Service Department Report for July 1997.
Mr. Duckworth read from the Clermont County Commissioners’ Journal # 284 from July 30, 1997. The following roads and lengths are accepted for placement into the Miami Township Public Road System;
T-2551 West Hanna Avenue 0.325 Miles
T-2552 Ridgetop Court 0.056 Miles
T-2553 Little River Lane 0.261 Miles
T-2554 River Bend Court 0.044 Miles
Mr. Duckworth read a notice from the Clermont County Auditor, Linda L. Fraley regarding the distribution of the 1998 Local Government Fund and 1998 Local Government Revenue Assistance Fund.
Mr. Duckworth read a notice from the Clermont County Auditor, Linda L. Fraley announcing a public hearing for the purpose of reviewing budgets for Townships, Villages and Joint Ambulance District for the fiscal year beginning January 01, 1997 will be held Tuesday, August 26, 1997 at 2:15 PM in the Clermont County Meeting Room of the Administration Building, 101 East Main, Batavia.
Mr. Duckworth read a notice from Clermont County Engineer, Carl G. Hartman announcing that arrangements for the fifth annual Snow Plow Roadeo are finalized. The event will take place on September 18, 1997 at 9:00AM at the 275 East Cinemas off Montclair Blvd. In Miami Township.
Mr. Duckworth read a memo from Chief Whitworth regarding the Insurance Services Office (ISO) They will be in Miami Township on September 08, 1997 to establish a new rating. The current rating is 6 in areas with fire hydrants and 9 in areas without hydrants. The rates were established in 1980.
Mr. Duckworth read a letter from Mr. Duckworth to Mr. Jim Prather, Athletic Director of Milford High School. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Duckworth offered the use of the three new tennis courts at the Township Park on Buckwheat Road to the Milford High School Tennis Program. Mr. Prather has responded and there is interest in using the courts.
Mr. Duckworth read a letter from Time Warner Cable. They requested permission to conduct a short presentation before the Board of Trustees at one of the meetings between September 01 and November 01, 1997. The presentation will be a brief recap of the upgrade project and discussion about the future and will take approximately 15 minutes.
Bid Opening for 1998 Fire/EMS Staff Vehicle was scheduled for 8:20PM. No Bids Received.
Public Hearing on Street Lighting District-Paxton East Subdivision. Mr. Duckworth recommended the Board approve the request for a street lighting district for the Paxton East Subdivision. Mr. David Dambrowski representing the Paxton East Marina Home Owners Association spoke to the Board regarding the need for street lighting in their neighborhood. Mr. Humphrey made a motion to adopt RESOLUTION 97-28 providing for the procurement of a street lighting system for Paxton East. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Humphrey made a motion to approve payment of the Township bills and Payroll including checks numbered from 62232 to 62390 for a total amount of $487,271.88. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth recommended the Board hire John Swing, Keith Bullock and Bobby Rose as Probationary Police Officers. Mr. Humphrey made a motion to hire John Swing effective August 31, 1997, Keith Bullock effective September 01, 1997 and Bobby Rose effective September 02, 1997 as probationary Police Officers at a rate of $13.54 per hour. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth requested the Board grant conditional employment to Michael Szpak and John Kleinfeldt which will enable the Police Department to proceed with the remaining pre-employment procedures. Mr. Uecker made a motion to offer conditional employment to police officer candidates John Kleinfeldt and Michael Szpak. Mr. Humphrey seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth advised the Board he has received a request from Chief Whitworth for the creation of a full-time Administrative Assistant position for the Fire/EMS Department. The proposed hourly rate is $9.00. The funding for the position was included in the 1997 budget. Mr. Humphrey made a motion to approve the job description and authorize Chief Whitworth to being the hiring process for a full-time Administrative Assistant. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Humphrey made a motion to set a Public Hearing for Rural Zoning Commission Case #427 at 8:30PM (during the regular meeting of the Board) on September 2, 1997. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth advised the Board he has received a request from Chief Bailey to sell one (1) surplus police radio to the Village of Batavia for $1.00. The radio is an older Motorola that is no longer needed. Mr. Humphrey made a motion to adopt RESOLUTION 97-29 authorizing the sale of 1-Motorola Low Band Portable Radio to the Village of Batavia for $1.00 pursuant to ORC 505.101. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth requested the Board authorize a vacation and sick leave one time buy-out of accrued hours for Mr. Lloyd Davis , a part-time zoning inspector. He also requested increasing Mr. Davis’ hourly rate to $10.76. Mr. Humphrey made a motion to increase the hourly rate of Mr. Lloyd Davis to $10.76 and to authorize a one time pay out of accrued vacation and sick time hours. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth requested the Board set a date and time for trick or treat night. Mr. Humphrey made a motion to set Friday, October 31, 1997 from 6PM to 8PM as the official celebration of Halloween Trick or Treat night in Miami Township. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth advised the Board of a problem with the quality of housekeeping services provided by the cleaning contractor, Fresh Start Cleaning Service. There are several serious violations of the contract and repeated phone calls by Walt Fischer and Randy Huneck to Fresh Start to correct the deficiencies have been disregarded. Mr. Duckworth requested the Board authorize him to terminate the housekeeping contract with Fresh Start Cleaning Service. Mr. Uecker made a motion to authorize Mr. Duckworth to terminate the housekeeping contract with Fresh Start Cleaning Service. Mr. Humphrey seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth recommended the Board hire Phyllis Winter as a part-time temporary employee at a rate of $7.50 per hour. She will work a total of 18 hours per week. At the end of 3 months Walt Fischer and Mr. Duckworth will assess the quality of service and make a recommendation on a longer term solution. Mr. Uecker made a motion to offer part-time temporary employment to Phyllis Winter at a rate of $7.50 per hour. Mr. Humphrey seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Duckworth advised the Board the Township has received a bond for the improvements being made to State Route 131 with respect to the park drive-way. The bonding company needs someone to execute the bond. Mr. Humphrey made a motion to authorize Mr. Duckworth to execute the bond on behalf of the Township. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Humphrey made a motion to authorize travel out of the Township for the OTA Summer Conference and reimbursement of expenses relative to the conference. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mrs. Schmidt reported on the convention. Annexation reform is now in the Senate. Mrs. Schmidt requested authorization to send a letter to Senator Doug White and Senator Dick Finan begging for the support of this much need legislation. Mr. Humphrey made a motion to authorize Mrs. Schmidt to submit letters to Senator Doug White and Senator Dick Finan on behalf of the Board. Mr. Uecker seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Linda Marshall of 5447 Carolyn Lane complained about the pot holes on Country Lane. The repairs that have been done are not lasting. Mr. Fischer agreed to look into the problem.
Mr. Uecker made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation pursuant to ORC 121.22(G)(3). Mr. Humphrey seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Uecker made a motion to come out of Executive Session. Mr. Humphrey seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Uecker made a motion to authorize Miami Township Attorney, John Korfhagen to enter into settlement discussions with counsel for Larry Roberts and will authorize John Korfhagen and Douglas
Holthus to sign a agreed entry and consent to agree on behalf of the Township. Mr. Humphrey seoncded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
Mr. Uecker made a motion to authorize John Korfhagen to take all steps necessary to appeal and file suit on behalf of Miami Township from the decision from the Clermont County Budget Commission regarding the allocation of the Local Government Fund and the Local Government Revenue Assistance Fund. Mr. Humphrey seconded the motion. Upon roll call, all voted "AYE."
With no other business to come before the Board, Chairperson Schmidt adjourned the meeting at 11:05 PM.
ATTEST:_____________________________________David Duckworth, Acting Clerk
____________________________________Jean Schmidt, Chairperson