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ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP -- Lt. Randy Schnieder, Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department, and Capt. Derrick Smith, Glenmoor Volunteer Fire Department, told the St. Clair Township Board of Trustees Monday's that it's been a busy month for the fire departments.
Schnieder said the department recently responded to a house fire on Bell School and Smith Ferry roads and a couple of brush fires.
Smith said his department has had 51 calls for the year and out of those calls which include the township and providing mutual aid, nine of them have been for structure fires and that is a relatively high number compared to past years.
Smith noted that the department wanted to communicate that none of those fires have been suspicious and that there has been an obvious cause for each of them because there has been a rumor going around that someone is setting fires.
Smith also said that his department has acquired several new already certified firefighters to bring the department to 21 firefighters and that the mortgage has been as of the beginning of the month paid off on their building.
Smith said he wanted to touch on Schieder's comment about brush fires and wants to remind everybody there is a statewide burn ban from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. throughout March, April, May, October and November. He also noted that if anyone needed an information pamphlet on the state law regarding the burn ban, to contact the department and they could provide them.
Schneider also said that the department is having a large-scale training on Saturday for a water tanker task force which would be going through the township, so if residents see a bunch of fire trucks from departments all over it's nothing to be alarmed over, it's just a training and a drill.
A resolution was adopted to approve the Salt Contract with Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the 2024-2025 winter season. Road Supervisor Scott Barrett said the township can store 200 tons of salt now and can be carried over yearly since it doesn't go bad. Based on that, he would like the contract to be for 400 tons of salt, so the township is prepared if it's a bad winter.
Other resolutions adopted including approving MCG Utility's application to work within a township right of way, authorizing expenditures from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), approving the line striping schedule for the township and granting a request of an extension of time for a prior application to work within a township right away.
Trustees adjourned into two executive sessions -- one for contract negotiations and one for interviewing applicants for the road department.
Following the first executive session, the trustees approved an extension through May 31 of the fire contracts.
There was no action taken following the executive session for interviews.
Payment of purchase orders totaling $118,671.07, blanket certificates totaling $1,104,250.33 and bills totaling $215,286.75 were approved for payment.
The township's Travel and Tourism trash pickup day will be April 27. Anyone interested in participating should meet at the township government building at 8:45 a.m.
The St. Clair Township Board of Trustees meets every other Monday at 4 p.m. at the St. Clair Township Government Building, 15442 Pugh Road, Calcutta. The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 6.