Oxford Township Trustees    

Minutes of September 2008 Regular Meeting

September 8, 2008

At 7:00 p.m. Mr. McDonough called the meeting to order at the Oxford Township Building.

Present: Mr.Frimerman, Mr. McDonough, and Mr. Salmon

Absent: None

Mr. Salmon moved, Mr. Frimerman seconded the motion to approve the agenda as amended

Aye: Mr. Salmon, Mr. Frimerman, and Mr. McDonough

Nay: None

Mr. McDonough declared the motion carried 3-0

Mr. McDonough welcomed the guests to the Oxford Township meeting. He stated that he knew that a lot of the guests were interested in the suggested connector road between United States Highway 27 and Ohio Highway 73 south of Oxford but if anyone was present for any other discussion the Trustees would hear them first.

1. Erika Nelson the chairman of the Brown Road Corridor Group wanted to discuss the target shooting at the Izaak Walton League Property on Brown Road. She said that in the last few weeks the amount and length of shooting had increased at the property. The most offence time was early on Sunday mornings. She had heard that the League had and agreement with the Oxford Police department to use the shooting range for firearm training. The group is not apposed to the League in fact that they have used the Izaak Walton Lodge for meeting but they would like to see if the early morning shooting could be changed. Mr. McDonough stated that he was a member of the League and that for years the residents of Brown Road had complains but the fact that the Izaak Walton was located on Brown Road before zoning (1957) there was little that could be done. Mr. Salmon said that when he was a member the League had regulation about Sunday firearm shooting and that it did not start until either 11.00 am or noon. Mr. McDonough asks the Township Police Chief, Mike Goins who is also a member and on the Board of Director for the Izaak Walton to see if he could share Erika’s concerns with the board and if they could implement a good neighbor policy on the firearms range. The Police Chief agreed to and would report back to the Trustees.

2. Jenny Gelber brought up the Miami Lands property in the Township and had been told that since Miami University was on the deed besides the property owner that Miami could have the last say on what happen to the property if the owner wanted to rezone or modify the use of the land. Mr. Salmon said that that information was untrue and actually that was a land rent that went back to when Miami was established as a land grant college. If fact today may property owners have with Miami’s help paid a fee and Miami prepared paperwork releasing the property of this annual rent. This is voluntary and not all property owners in Oxford Township have done so and they still receive the annual rent bill. Generally now when property is sold if this has not been done it is paid off in this transaction.

3. Mr. McDonough asks if anyone else has anything to bring up to the Trustees before they began the discussion on the connector road. No one had anything to bring up so Mr. McDonough opened the meeting up to discuss the connector road. Jim Rubenstein chairman of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Committee opened the discussion with a brief summary of the chain of events surrounding the connector road with respect of Oxford Township, Milford Township, The City of Oxford, and Miami University. Mr. Rubenstein feels that Oxford City Council is unable to get four votes for any of the connector options either for or against. Mr.Frimerman has spoken to Steve Snyder from Miami and they are against any connector going through University property. Mr.Loucks is not in favor of the connector but does not want to lose any of the earmarked federal funds approved for the connector so they could be used for road improvements around Oxford. He is also in favor of a traffic study on the rerouting of US 27 and Ohio 73 through Oxford. Mr. Rubenstein has no faith in a traffic study conducted by OKI or the ODOT since the results of studies could be interpreted in many ways.

Mr. Frimerman made a motion that the Oxford Township Trustees are against any connector between US 27 and Ohio 73 and US 27 and Brown Road. Seconded by Mr. Salmon.

Aye: Mr. Frimerman, Mr. Salmon, and Mr. McDonough

Nay: None

Mr. McDonough declared the motion passed

4. Mr. Rubenstein brought up the Land Use Plan and the implementation of the conservation development portion which would require making an overlay district on Oxford Township or an addition of the conservation development section to the Butler County, Ohio Rural Zoning Resolution. Mr. Salmon suggested that since Oxford, Hanover, and Ross Township’s land use plans are either approved or near there that we try to meet with the six Townships that use county zoning and try to have only one conservation development plan for all rather than the possibility in the future of having several plans. If this attempt failed then Oxford Township would proceed with the overlay district. If all the Township could agree on one plan and the county commissioner approve this would make the county planning and development department’s job much easier. Everyone agreed and Mr. McDonough was going to contact the other Townships to see if there was interest in meeting sometime in the future.

5. Butch Hubble, candidate for Butler County Commissioner introduced himself to the Trustees and guests and distributed a handout about him and briefly stated why he wanted to be a commissioner.

6. Ronald Schnitker Co-Owner of S and S Towing addressed the Trustees. He has been towing for Oxford Township for 30 plus years and over the years he feels he has been fairly treated. Only recently he feels that the City of Oxford Dispatch has not followed a towing rotation with all the towing companies. He is only getting the towing jobs that the other company does not want. If this continues he will remove his company from the rotation. He has spoken to Chief Goins on this matter. Chief Goins suggested that the Township use the county dispatch for towing request since their rotation is done by computer and towing reports and be tracked. Mr. Schnitker and the Trustees decided to use the county dispatch for towing for the rest of the year to see if the rotation process would improve. Mr. Salmon asks Mr. Schnitker to keep in touch with the Trustees on this matter.

Mr. Salmon had two corrections :page 3 125-08 need added Mr. Salmon moved, Mr. Frimerman seconded to approve the minutes of the July 14, 2008 Regular Meeting. Page 4 129-08 change to concerned with the workmanship of repairing the stone.

Mr. Frimerman moved. Mr. Salmon seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the August 11, 2008 Regular Meeting as corrected

Aye: Mr. Frimerman, Mr. Salmon, and Mr. McDonough

Nay: None

Mr. McDonough declared the motion carried 3-0

The Trustees reviewed the Financial Report provided to them by the Fiscal Officer. Mr. McDonough asks the other Trustees if they have any questions or comments on the report. Mr. Frimerman asks about the low percentage of the General Property Tax-Real Estate. Mr. Salmon said that the second half of the year real estate tax were collected in August and have not been distributed by the county yet. Mr. Frimerman moved and Mr. Salmon seconded the motion to accept the Financial Report as presented.

Aye: Mr. Frimerman, Mr. Salmon, and Mr. McDonough

Nay: None

Mr. McDonough declared the motion passed 3-0

Mr. Salmon presented the Supplemental Appropriations that the Fiscal Officer requested. The request is to move money from one line item to another within the Police fund. Mr. Salmon moved and Mr. Frimerman seconded the motion to approve the appropriation modifications as requested by the Fiscal Officer.

Aye: Mr. Salmon, Mr. Frimerman, and Mr. McDonough

Nay: None

Mr. McDonough declared the motion passed 3-0

Cemetery Report

Mr. Hoelle reported that the sign for the cemetery has been installed and had a picture of it to show the Trustees.

Road Report

Mr. Hoelle gave the road report

*The mowing of the roadsides have been completed for the third time depending on the weather the road crew will mow one more time

*There has been a few road signs missing since the return of the Miami Students

*The Road crew with the Butler County Engineer’s Office has been doing some ditching on a few roads

Police Report

*Chief Goins provided a police report for the Trustees

* The accident with the train and death of the woman has been ruled a suicide

*OMVI arrests have increased during this reporting period

* The SOP manual is at the printers

No other reports this month

Mr. Salmon distributed a maintenance agreement from Mobilcomm for the Warning Sirens. He wants the Trustees to look it over for possible action at the October meeting.

Mr. Salmon moved, Mr. Frimerman seconded the motion to approve the payment of the bills prepared by the Fiscal Officer.

Aye: Mr. Salmon, Mr. Frimerman, and Mr. McDonough

Nay: None

None was held

At 9:30 pm Mr. Frimerman moved, Mr. Salmon seconded the motion to adjourn

Aye: Mr.Frimerman, Mr. Salmon, and Mr. McDonough

Nay: None

Respectfully Submitted

Gary R. Salmon, Trustee

___________________________ __________________________

Trustee Trustee

__________________________ __________________________

Trustee Fiscal Office

Oxford Township Trustees

Minutes

September 8, 2008

ITEM

Call to Order 136-08

Approval of Agenda 137-08

Recognition of Guests 138-08

Approval of Minutes August 11, 2008 Regular Meeting 139-08

Approval of Financial Report 140-08

Approval of Appropriation Modifications 141-08

Standing Items 142-08

Other Items 143-08

Approval to Pay Bills 144-08

Executive Session 145-08

Adjournment 146-08

Oxford Township Trustees

Agenda

September 18, 2008 7:00 pm

Special Meeting

Talawanda Middle School