A proposed bus route was reviewed by the Springfield Township trustees at the October 3 meeting.
Administrator Mike Hampton presented a map of the proposed transit routing and stops. The loop route features 11 stops, and the administrator said the second stop will require a crosswalk for those going to Walmart.
“Stops three, four, eight and nine are being evaluated,” he explained as those stops will be impacted by the McCord Road project.
Stop five will be at Aldi’s, and six will service the Spring Meadows apartment complex. The seventh stop in front of Kroger at Centre Drive marks the end of the route before circling back to prior locations.
“The loop will take 15 to 20 minutes,” he said, and riders waiting at a stop will use an app that will indicate where the transit vehicle currently is along the route.
Mr. Hampton added that TARTA plans to launch the route in March 2023 and has asked the township for assistance in construction of infrastructure at each stop. “We will handle the building [of stops], and TARTA will pay for their cost.”
Zoning Report
At the request of Jacob Barnes, planning director, the trustees set a public hearing on a zoning change request for 5 p.m., Monday, November 7, at the township meeting hall.
Dan Ridi is seeking a change from C-2 general commercial and RA-3 residential to C-2 general commercial for 10127 Airport Highway.
Mr. Barnes said the owner is looking to expand his gas station at the southeast corner of Airport and Eber Road.
As part of his report, Mr. Barnes gave an overview of zoning activity in September. “There was nothing of significance,” he said, noting the report was short this month because he was out of the office at a conference.
Last month the department collected $970 from 11 permits that were issued for accessory structures, additions, decks and fencing, two apiece, and sign, co-location on tower and garage, one each. Mr. Barnes attended the Home Builders Association meeting last month. “The meeting was well attended by local builders, developers and engineers, and the discussion revolved around issues they have with the county engineer’s office,” he said, including the length of time for reviews and inconsistencies with reviews.
He also presented a letter from Mark Finamore of Turner, May and Shepherd law firm. Mr. Finamore complimented Mr. Barnes on his presentation of zoning issues at an Ohio Township Association webinar.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Contracted with Hank’s Plumbing and Heating of Albon Road to relocate the water meter at the township administrative building for $8,709. The relocation is necessary due to construction of the roundabout.
•Discussed House Bill 140 sponsored by Derek Merrin of Monclova Township, which takes effect May 2, 2023. The bill requires the amount a levy will collect annually to be included in ballot language, and requires that property tax rates be expressed in terms of $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, so voters can readily understand the impact of tax levies.
•Heard from Mr. Hampton that he continues to work with Mr. G’s ice cream and the county engineer on a plan for ingress and egress when a roundabout is constructed in the future. “They are not seeing eye to eye,” he said, adding Mr. G’s would be losing one access point.
•Approved the payment of bills from September 20 to October 3 totaling $300,339, including the third Ohio Public Works Commission payment of $84,026, and the return of a $134,000 escrow payment to the fire department. They also approved electronic payments from September 16 to 29 of $260,804, which includes the biweekly payroll of $240,019.
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, November 7, at the township meeting hall 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. The meeting also may be viewed on live stream at the township’s website, springfieldtown ship.net.
