PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
GOING OVER DATES … Center Township Trustees Ryan Muehlfield and Julie Davis discuss the spring clean-up dates scheduled for Melbern and William Center.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Center Township Trustees met on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to prepare for the township’s first spring cleanup events of the season.
Trustees Matt Grube, Ryan Muehlfield, Julie Davis and Fiscal Officer Terry Collins were in attendance.
The spring cleanup will be divided into two events, one for William Center and one for Melbern. This will be offered as a free program to help Center Township residents keep their own space clean.
For Melbern residents, the cleanup will take place on April 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., next to the church parking lot.
For William Center residents, the cleanup will take place on April 25, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the William Center Community Center.
“We’re going to have both dump trucks there. We’re going to put metal in one and we’ll see what kind of brush, limbs, other stuff we are going to get,” explained Muehlfield.
No tires, batteries, paint cans, or other hazardous material will be accepted during the pickup. Residents are advised to contact the Williams County Health Department for any scheduled hazardous material disposal events.
A cemetery cleanup will also be taking place in the near future. The sexton has requested that all flowers and decorations be removed by April 20, 2026, so cleaning can begin.
Todd Burkholder, zoning inspector, provided an update to the trustees, noting that four new permit applications have been submitted.
Under old business, trustees reported that renovations to the township hall are nearing completion. A motion to approve the purchase of a new water fountain was passed, marking one of the final steps in the project.
Window tinting and sign installation remain among the last items to be completed.
Under new business, a quote for grass spraying across Center Township was presented and approved in the amount of $1,400. “We were doing it every other year and it’s just nice to keep things clean,” said Muehlfield.
An executive session was entered at 7:51 p.m. for a new employment discussion. The trustees returned to regular session at 8:06 p.m. with no action.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m. The next Center Township meeting will take place on April 21, 2026, at 7 p.m.
