By: Mario Gomez
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The German Township meeting took place on Monday, July 13, with Brad Short, Jay Pursel and AJ Short all present.
Dave Davis, Archbold Fire Department (AFD) chief, Josh Aeschliman, Dean Genter and Bob Apger were in attendance. Chief Fiscal Officer Jeff Coressel was absent from the meeting.
AFD Report
Davis gave his monthly report before the trustees to start the meeting. Ladder and hose testing was done over the week of July 6-10. Both tests met passing standards.
An appointment with an ISO (Insurance Services Office) representative is scheduled for July 27. The ISO report is done every five years and evaluates local fire departments to assign a Public Protection Classification.
Archbold received a 4.44 rating in its last evaluation, with a lower score being the benchmark for a passing score.
All of the AFD radios have been programmed to the MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communication System).
The system is designed to link local emergency management, all 88 county sheriffs, state troopers and local fire departments into a single reliable digital network capable of handling voice, mobile data and GPS-based vehicle tracking.
Davis will begin working more with Kyle Brodbeck, incoming fire chief, the final week of August in preparation for the handing over of duties.
Brodbeck is set to take over on September 27, at which time Davis will begin his retirement. Entries for the fire department’s 150th celebration parade are beginning to come in, and plans are coming along positively.
Zoning Report
Genter gave a report on zoning issues and made a request for the public to take knowledge of.
After traveling 61 miles through township areas and taking pictures of several properties, Genter asked all German Township residents who have unlicensed vehicles or campers or junk in their yards to be aware that he is taking notice of the areas.
All those involved will begin receiving notices and the issue will be addressed. Genter assures this is not a personal issue but that this is the job he is being asked to do, and he will do the job accordingly.
A few permits were received so far this month. Finally, Genter asked the trustees for an easier way to simplify the regional planning website’s connection to the German Township zoning page.
Cemetery Report
Apger, German Township cemetery sexton, reported that he received a few calls on the pricing of burial plots but that he never received a follow-up call.
He also reported issues with some wild animals or critters creating havoc around the grounds.
Maintenance
Aeschliman stated a fiber optic cable that had been left in an area where the township mowed had damaged a mower. The cable was disposed of, and a bill for repairs to the mower will be created and sent to receive compensation for damages.
All roadside mowing was done for the second time this season. Mowing at Woodland Park was done in preparation for the upcoming 150th celebration and concert.
A tree was removed from the road in Goll Woods, and trees were cut back on County Road G before the road was reopened after being closed.
A broken telephone pole and cable that had been down for several months on County Road 25 was cleaned up. Maintenance was done to the township dump truck.
Aeschliman spoke with Gerken Paving and officials with Archbold about a water tap that was done in Burlington. He also spoke with Gerken Paving about ideas for repaving of County Road B.
Trustees Report
The trustees approved the minutes from the last meeting, with the exception of a discussion on the subject of County Road 24, and approved the paying of bills as presented.
Pursel spoke with Dan Lange, who asked if he could fill in a portion of a ditch that sits in front of his home.
Years ago it had been filled with dirt at the approval of township officials, but he was then told the ditch could not remain dirt-filled and it was dug up.
Pursel said that he would have to check into the matter but that it shouldn’t be a problem. Pettisville Missionary contacted Pursel to report about a sign that was leaning.
Pursel will work with maintenance to take care of the sign. More discussion on the use of storage containers was reported by AJ Short.
The trustees will be looking into closing any loopholes that could make the use of the containers acceptable. Brad Short reports that the township is still in search of laptops and a television for the township meeting room.
So far two businesses had given German Township quotes on prices for new laptops but have not followed through when asked to address the trustees at a meeting.
They will continue to reach out to the current supplier but are also open to looking elsewhere.