PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
LEVY BUSINESS … From left, Fiscal Officer Courtny Osborn and Trustee Bert Brown review the cemetery levy language change.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Florence Township Trustees held their meeting on Tuesday, July 21, starting at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Trustees Bert Brown and Mark Trausch were present, however Trustee Don Imm was absent.
Also in attendance were Fiscal Officer Courtny Osborn, roadman Paul Green, and firefighter Dan Ankney, representing the Florence Township Fire Department in place of Fire Chief Allyn Luce.
Ankney presented a brief update from the Fire Department, noting first that the recent run to the turnpike did not receive reimbursement.
The current contract covers fire emergencies and accidents, but the incident involving an individual stuck in an elevator fell outside those parameters. As Ankney advised, this gap in coverage should be revisited when the contract comes up for renewal.
He also reported that the Knox Controller Box, approved at the last meeting, has now been renewed and paid. The system provides secure, rapid-access control for emergency responders, allowing authorized personnel to retrieve keys and other critical items when seconds matter.
In a follow-up to a previous discussion, Ankney added that interest in the 36-hour fire training class has shifted; of the two individuals who initially planned to attend, only one remains committed.
Transitioning to equipment updates, Engine 43 will be transported to Lagrange, Indiana, for repairs by Selking. Although the department was able to clear the error codes and return the engine to service temporarily, the issues have reappeared and now require more extensive work. Osborn added that she believed she still has a gift certificate to Selking.
Closing out his report, Ankney noted that the department has responded to three to four additional fire runs since the previous meeting.
Brown then introduced a resolution he initially believed pertained to the fire department, but it was actually the cemetery levy for the Village of Edon Union Cemetery. Ankney confirmed that the Edon Village Council had approved the same resolution at its meeting the previous evening.
The trustees, as well as Ankney and Osborn, agreed that the recent language change has made the resolution confusing for them and the public.
Despite the confusion, Osborn explained it is not a new levy but a continuing one, even though the language lists the levy as additional instead of a replacement or renewal. Ankney emphasized it is a wording change, not two taxes.
Osborn continued, clarifying that this would be the last step to getting the levy on the ballot in November, and once passed it will go to the Board of Elections.
Trausch moved to approve the resolution and Brown seconded, passing the cemetery levy resolution. Green followed with road work updates, first confirming mowing had been completed. Green is still working on cold patching repairs on County Road 4.
In between, he was able to clean up some trees and debris off the roads from the recent storms in the area. Lastly, Green informed the trustees he had ordered parts for the durapatching equipment, some to repair an air leak and the other parts being kept on hand.
Brown informed the group that he had been contacted by a representative of Gerkens about hauling down County Road H.
They will be doing grinding work on State Route 34 and want to haul approximately 100 tons of stones down County Road H.
Being that it will only be around five truckloads, the group agreed it should not be an issue. Brown also asked if the township could use some of the grindings. The top grindings will go back to the plant, but the second grindings will be available.
Brown suggested that if the township was not interested this year, he would keep the contact information for next year.
While reviewing financial reports and signing required documents, Trausch noted the Best One charge that did not have a connected invoice.
He questioned what it was for, and Osborn was not sure, as the last purchase would have been a little while ago, and she had since received more recent statements from Best One.
Osborn stated she would reach out to see if they could provide a copy of the invoice.
Osborn also reported that the audit had been completed and should be in the final stages of review. Hopefully it will be released by the end of the week.
Before adjourning, Osborn asked for a motion to approve the previous meeting’s minutes, which Trausch provided.
Brown seconded and approved the minutes. Trausch then moved to adjourn with a second from Brown. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m. The next Florence Township Trustee meeting will be Tuesday, August 4.