SYLVANIA TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION - NEWS
Project of the Year Award
Sylvania Township has received the "Project of the Year," award for using pervious pavement for the parking area at it's new fire station on Whiteford Road, just north of Monroe Street.
Wayne Moening, of the Ohio Concrete Association, which presented the award,said the use of the material is an environmentally friendly way for paving surfaces and the township was given the award for using the relatively new technology.
The parking area of the station, to the south of the building, is made of pervious pavement, a substance which allows water to flow through the surface. In the case of the station, the water flows through the surface to a stone base and then into perforated pipes. The water then flows through the pipes into a rain garden located next to the parking lot.
Mr. Moening said the primary benefit of pervious pavement is that storm water isn't added to the storm-water sewer system. If it is used in enough quantity in large developments it could reduce the need for developers to construct retention ponds to hold storm water to reduce the possibility of flooding. Pervious pavement is more expensive than other materials used for paving, but Mr. Moening said he intends to show it to developers and others in the construction industry as a possible alternative to more traditional materials.
The fire station is the only known site in the township with pervious pavement and it was paid for through a state grant as a demonstration project. Mr. Moening said the material isn't suggested for areas where there is a high rate of traffic, or where vehicles might turn frequently. He said particles of the material can be caught in tire treads and pulled from the surface. Daryl Graus, manager of the planning and zoning office, said pervious pavement is a material which could be used in other parking areas adjacent to travel lanes and possibly in large commercial parking lots for spaces a distance away from stores which are only parked in a few times a year.
Mr. Moening said a special rolling mechanism is required to lay the pavement. He said a couple of area contractors own the device and the association also has one which is made available for contractors when they need it.
New Hours
Sylvania Township trustees have approved a change in hours for the planning and zoning office. The new hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Daryl Graus, manager of the department, told trustees there are no longer as many "foot visitors" as in the past. He said much of the office's business is done through email and other technologies.
Fire Station Sold
The former Sylvania Township fire station on Central Avenue, just west of I-475/US23, has been sold for $310,000.
John Zeitler, township administrator, told trustees that the sale is contingent on the lot being zoned for commercial use, rather than its current category which is for governmental property. He said the township is seeking that rezoning and otherwise the sale is on an "as-is" basis.
He had hoped the property might get a higher price, but after inspecting it he found that there are leaks in the roof and other likely structural problem. Another problem for the former fire station property is it's location. Although Central Avenue is a commercial corridor, the site of the former station number two is blocked from eastbound traffic lanes by a traffic barrier.
Mr. Zeitler said two independent appraisals estimated the site's value at about $300,000. The original asking price was $339,000. Mr. Zeitler said the building itself will likely have to be torn down and another constructed before the property can be put to use. The first two offers on the property were in the range of $250,000. Eventually Ryan Opiel made the successful offer of $310,000.
The current number two fire station is on McCord Road, south of Central Avenue.
A Sylvania Township trustee has begun conversations with state officials in an attempt to allow township residents to vote on issues effect the township only, rather than be required to include citizens of the city of Sylvania in the ballot issues.
The issue came to the fore when it was determined that city residents would have to be included in voting on an issue of whether or not the township would opt-out of its contract with TARTA.
Trustees had said that if voters agreed to opt-out of TARTA, they would have an alternative transportation system in place for the township. That alternate system would have to be funded by a separate tax, which would have to be approved by voters, including city residents.
Because of limits on townships, trustees can't place an issue on the ballot seeking funding specifically for an alternative public transportation service. The township would have to seek an increase through a levy for general operating funds.
Because the city has no plans to drop TARTA, it is thought unlikely that city residents would vote in favor of increased taxes meant for an alternate system for the township.
Neal Mahoney, trustee, said he has had preliminary talks with officials in Columbus to see if there is a way to allow township residents only to vote on issues particular to the township. He said it was too early to determine what changes may be needed or how long the process might take.
Trustees had earlier determined they would put an issue on the March ballot so voters could decide whether or not to opt-out of TARTA. When that decision was made, trustees intended to have an alternate transportation plan in place.
At their most recent meeting, they voted 2-1 to pull the issue, but voiced their intent to have it on the November ballot. John Jennewine, chairman of the trustees, said that although trustees had received a report from a Florida-based transportation consultant, "there is an idea of a plan, but there is no plan.
He added that, "TARTA is the number one complaint I get, but I don't want to pull the rug out from under," those who rely on the service. Mr. Jennewine said that by moving the opt-out issue to November, there would be time for, "either side to get their voice heard."
Trustee Kevin Haddad voted to keep the issue on the March ballot. He said that if the opt-out provision failed, the community would still be served by TARTA and the issue would be over. If it passed, he said he thought there would be sufficient time to get a plan underway before TARTA service ceased. He also noted that by pushing the vote to November, residents will have to pay taxes on the service through 2013. Even if TARTA has ended operations in the township.
Mr. Mahoney said he voted to delay the ballot issue, because trustees had said there would be an alternate plan in place but such a plan couldn't be devised in time. He is also working with state officials to change the law which would require residents to pay for a service for a year during which that service is no longer available.
Troy Stevenson
Sylvania Township
Tarta Board Trustee
I wish to share with you information from the Dec 1, 2011, TARTA Board of Trustee's meeting. The topic of "opt out" by Perrysburg and/or Sylvania Township was brought up for discussion how TARTA would respond, specifically, if the request for contracting of services would be made and how would TARTA respond. The services that they referred to that possibly would be requested for contracting would be for "dial a ride" or TARPS services that is currently provided. While this topic did not get much of a discussion, I did sense based on Jim Gee's view on the matter, that TARTA would be less than inclined to be interested in working with any community that would opt out. The view and/or perception was that the remaining TARTA member communities would then be subsidizing the contracted services. I am not sure if the request for contracted services for TARTA would be made by Sylvania Township if "opt out" does occur, but I wanted you to be aware of that discussion.
I see the matter will be up for a resolution vote tomorrow at your trustee meeting to place this topic on the ballot in March.
I was also told there is a Dec 14 special meeting to review public transportation plans for Sylvania Township. I do not see this on the Township website calendar. If there is a public meeting, please let me know date and time.
Pinching Pennies
In an era when it seems most governments spend all they have and beyond, it's refreshing to report that the four main funds of Sylvania Township spent under what had been budgeted for this past year.
John Jennewine, president of the trustees, said John Zeitler, township administrator, along with Susan Wood, assistant administrator, had set a tone that expenses were going to be closely watched and that department heads and employees in general adhered to tighter rein on expenditures across the board.
Mr. Jennewine also credited Jim Beck, director of accounting and budget. for a close watch on spending through the year.
The department which held the reins tightest was the road and bridge fund. The expense budget for that section for 2011 was $3,520,000, Actual expenses were $2,909,000, or 82.5 percent of the budget at the start of the year.
General fund expenses had been budgeted at $3,749,000, but spending was held to $3,179,000, for 82.6 percent.
The police fund held expenses to $6,487,000 in contrast to the amount of $7,300,000 which had been budgeted, for 88.3 percent. The fire fund was near the same level, with expenditures of $7,343,000 compared to the $8,201,000 which was in the budget.
In written remarks to the trustees, Mr. Beck said the department "managers should be complimented for doing an excellent job on their spending."
Mr. Jennewine echoed that comment, adding that there have been state funding cuts and the general economy has hurt township revenue. Keeping a close eye on taxpayer money is one way the township can deal with it, he said.