FALL 2009 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3 Trustees : Phil Jackson, Dan Gorbett, Tom Glauer, TRUSTEES AND FISCAL OFFICER WORK TO SAFEGUARD OUR TAX DOLLARS. Sandusky Township fiscal officer Sally Glauer recommended, and Trustees Phil Jackson, Dan Gorbett and Tom Glauer all voted in favor of entering into the CDARS program, in conjunction with United Bank of Crestline. The Program offers a much easier way to fully ensure 100% FDIC insurance coverage on all reserve funds. This happens by dividing up funds and dispersing them to member banks, in order to remain below the $100,000 FDIC limit. Along with this extra security, the program also offers a much higher interest rate than traditional government accounts. This action makes it possible to recover any and all funds lost, even those over and above the FDIC limit, in the unlikely event of a bank closure. 2009 TOWNSHIP AUDIT “CLEAN” Sandusky Township is audited by the Auditor of State of Ohio every two year and uses the Auditor of State’s Uniform Accounting Network to process all financial transactions. All financial records; expenditures, revenues, payroll are not only examined as to the corresponding to bank records, tax statements, investment statements, but examined to determine the financial reporting is compliant with certain provisions of the laws, regulations and contracts. Sandusky Township completed the audit of the record for 2007 and 2008 in May of 2009. Sally Glauer, Township Fiscal Officer, was happy to report that the township had an excellent audit with no financial or compliance issues reported by the Auditor of State. State of Ohio audit information can be found at : www.auditor.state.oh.us Recent Township Projects        The township is on our third round of ditch mowing. This typically starts in June and ends in late September. A sink hole has been fixed on Flowers road which will prevent future road damage. An old culvert was replaced on Crestline-Bloomingrove Road on the section just south of Millsboro road. New signs have been ordered and installed replacing damaged or stolen signs. 2010 U.S. Census work completed and submitted by Trustee Jackson. Grant application submitted for Crestview Drive culvert repair. Zoning regulations changed to include alternative energy sources. Fiscal Officer : Sally Glauer Permits necessary for decks and fences too. The Sandusky Township Zoning Regulations require a permit be issued prior to building not only houses, barns and garages, but decks, signs, and fences as well. The application, which can be obtained from the Zoning Inspector, must be filled out including plans or drawings highlighting work to be done, and distances to property lines. Zoning regulations and contact information are available online at Jim Wolf—Zoning Inspector www.sanduskytownship.net or books since 1986 may be purchased for $10 from the Zoning Inspector. Members on the Zoning Board: From Left, Gary Ulmer, Wilber Wineland, Pat Fruth, Dave Horning, and John Finnegan. Members of the Zoning Appeals Board, From Left: Robert Brewer, Ron Spayde, Chuck Weaver, H.L. Carr, and Andy Muntis STEVENS AND KAHN ROAD RECEIVE A FRESH COATING Earlier this summer, both Stevens Road and Kahn Road received a fresh coat of chip and seal. Resurfacing projects have been scheduled for later in the year, than in previous years, to avoid the hottest days of summer and its effects on the roads. The Township recoats roads on a rotational basis with some of the more highly traveled roads requiring more attention. Starting in 2006, the Trustees unanimously voted to change from the traditional chip and seal mix containing white limestone to that of a mix containing blue limestone. This also changes the “tar” or seal mix that holds the stone in place. We felt this step was necessary to help the road surfaces last longer. Blue limestone is a much harder, denser product than white limestone and seems to last longer. An additional benefit of the stone change is that blue limestone drastically reduces road dust typically seen with this type of road surface. Fiscal Officer Sally Glauer, Trustees Dan Gorbett, Phil Jackson, And Tom Glauer attend to Sandusky Township business FALL 2009 Visit us at: www.sanduskytownship.net NEWSLETTER SCHOOL BUS SAFETY IS A MUST This month we want to remind motorists, parents and children alike of some helpful tips to ensure school bus safety in our community. Motorists should remember that they are required to stop for stopped school buses that are displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. When buses are stopped, kids are either getting on or off the school bus and motorists need to pay extra attention to children crossing the roadways. Motorists approaching from either direction are required to stop at least 10 feet from a stopped school bus until the bus resumes motion. If a school bus is stopped on a road divided into four or more lanes, only traffic driving in the same direction as the bus must stop. Although drivers of all vehicles are required to stop for a school bus when it is stopped to load or unload passengers, children should not rely on them to do so. The following school bus safety tips from the National Safety Council are intended for parents to teach their children. Getting on the school bus • When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness. Do not stray onto streets, alleys or private property. • Line up away from the street or road as the school bus approaches. • Wait until the bus has stopped and the door opens before stepping onto the roadway. NUMBER E HOUSE • Use the handrail when stepping onto the bus. $10 REFLECTIV ABLE FOR Getting off the school bus ARE AVAIL S OR N IG S E If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk at least 10 feet ahead of the bus along the side of the RUST E F ACT ANY T T N O C . road until you can turn around and see the driver. H E AC TAILS • Make sure that the driver can see you. MORE DE • Wait for a signal from the driver before beginning to cross. • When the driver signals, walk across the road keeping an eye out for sudden traffic changes. • Do not cross the center line of the road until the driver has signaled that it is safe for you to begin walking. • Stay away from the bus’ rear wheels at all times. Correct way to cross the street Children should always stop at the curb or the edge of the road and look left, then right, and then left again before crossing. • They should continue looking in this manner until they are safely across. • If student’s vision is blocked by a parked car or other obstacle, they should move out to where drivers can see them and they can see other vehicles -then stop, and look left-right-and left again. With the cooperation of motorists, parents, and children, we can all help make the bus ride to and from school as safe as possible for our children. ATTENTION!!! On the last Saturday of each month, Richland Co. Solid Waste collects scrap tires from 8:00am-4:30pm at their facility located at 1125 National Parkway. (10 tire limit) Cost is $3 for standard tire, $5 for tires on rims, $8 Semitires off rim, and $25 for tractor tires off rim. 2009 Township Hall rental rates: $40.00 Resident $100 Resident (for Profit) Contact Trustee Phil Jackson for details Have a newsworthy story? Contact Trustee Phil Jackson at 419-683-5670 or send email to [email protected] Sandusky Township Trustees 5201 Hook Road Crestline, Ohio 44827 Regular Business Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of every Month 8:00pm @ Township Hall 5345 S.R. 309, Galion, Ohio 44833 Garage Phone: 419-468-3916 www.sanduskytownship.net