Refuse and recycling, a subject which had been on the back burner for several years, is now being readdressed by the Springfield Township board of trustees.
At the August 6 meeting, James Shaw, Lucas County sanitary engineer, proposed the township reconsider utilizing one collector, who would pick up refuse and recycling door to door.
Shaw said there are perks to having curbside refuse and recycling using one carrier. One benefit to the township would be a decrease in wear and tear on roads, currently created by multiple carriers traversing the township each week.
Another benefit would be cost, which he believes would be lower. The sanitary engineer pointed out that a number of jurisdictions in the area bundle trash and recycling services and suggested they look to neighboring Monclova Township as a model when considering how they would like their service to look.
He noted that any service contract would need to be multi-year, typically five or 10 years in length. This is due, in part, to the cost of trash receptacles provided by the refuse collector.
Trustee Andy Glenn reminded the engineer that when the trustees originally were approached a number of years ago, there were still three local collectors in the township, which was the main reason they chose not to consider a unified system.
“Our last local hauler just sold and is out of here,” he said, adding, “I think moving forward this is the right thing to do. It makes a lot of sense, and I think the timing is right.”
Administrator Mike Hampton expressed some concern “We are going to get some push back. Some folks don’t want the government to tell tham what do. They don’t like change.”
Shaw responded that the change would not occur overnight. “We wouldn’t propose to begin until 2026,” he said and that would only be after doing a “dollars and cents comparison” to see if the system makes financial sense for the township and its residents.
He also recommended that the trustees hold several public meetings when they have all the information so the public can weigh in on the proposal.
The sanitary engineer offered to seeks requests for proposals from area refuse collection companies for fiveand 10-year plans and the costs involved.
The trustees agreed and Glenn cautioned that a unified collection system will only be considered “if it saves residents money.”
Zoning
Jacob Barnes, planning director, updated the trustees on activity in zoning over the past month.
He noted that there are two hearings coming up to consider changes.
On August 27, the plan commission will hear a request to rezone property at 8305 and 8319 Nebraska Avenue from RA-4 rural residential to RA-3 large lot rural residential with conditional use.
The second request is to change the parcel at 6501 Angola Road from R-A suburban residential and M-3 heavy industrial to C-2 general commercial. Barnes believes both zoning changes are better suited for their respective locations.
He also told the trustees that the board of zoning appeals approved at their July meeting a variance request for a second free standing monument sign at 10165 Airport Highway on the S&G property.
The BZA will meet on August 27 to consider requests for:
•variance at 8026 Nebraska Avenue to allow for an accessory building to be constructed between the house and street;
•variance at 6523 Antoinette Lane to allow for construction of a pool closer to the property line than permitted, and
•conditional use at 8305 and 8319 Nebraska Avenue to allow the existing landscaping contractor to remain at the property.
Barnes also told the trustees that he has completed a business inventory in the joint economic development zone and is updating the spreadsheet. “I will have official figures at the next meeting,” he added.
Barnes said he met with management of all the vape shops in the township on July 29 to discuss concerns with the underage sale of e-cigarettes and to urge them not to sell to juveniles.
Hampton met with Springfield Schools superintendent Matt Geha and Holland administrator Bob Bethel regarding the issue and was informed by the superintendent that vaping is the “biggest issue” with middle and high school students.
Trustee Glenn also expressed concern that some parents may be contributing to the problem by allowing their children access to the e-cigarettes.
In other zoning matters, Josh Hollinger, zoning inspector, presented the trustees with the zoning permit report for July. The department issued 51 permits and collected $3,410.
“That was the busiest month that I can remember,” Barnes said.
Permits were issued for fencing, 11; swimming pool, eight; signs, four; temporary signs, commercial remodel and sheds, three apiece; garage, new dwellings, deck, variance request, accessory structure, change in use and additions, two each, and remodel, conditional use and temporary building, one apiece.
Barnes said the department continues to work on complaints and violations, particularly of vegetation. “Good progress is being made,” he added.
His report concluded with a request to investigate zoning for accessory dwelling units such as inlaw suites.
While Barnes does not expect to encounter many in the township, he believes there could be spots for them “as long as the right safeguards are in place.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” Glenn responded.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Employed on the recommendation of Fire Chief Jonathan Ziehr two part-time firefighter/EMTs.
Alexander Lampkin, a firefighter/ EMT paramedic, will be paid $27.24 per hour, and Shelby Johnston’s hourly rate as a firefighter EMT basic will be $25.01. Both started employment on August 6.
•Recertified lighting assessments for the following districts: Oak Park, Airport Ex PK, Sawmill Run plats one and four, Commerce EX one, Heatherglen plat two, Courtyard of Holloway, Heatherglen plat six, Fox Run plat one, Wexford plats one and three and Apple B Farm plat eight.
Cost and expense of lighting in the districts will be assessed against the lots and parcels in the respective districts. The assessments run from 2025 to 2034.
•Discussed the Swan Creek Watershed issue and Lucas County engineer Mike Pniewski’s request to the county commissioners to recess the issue until July 2025 to allow the department to explore other cost options and revisions.
Those revisions would remove Fulton and Henry counties which already clean and maintain their own ditches.
•Renewed a leaf agreement with Aqualawn for $7,500, which reflects no increase in price from the previous year.
•Paid bills from July 17 to August 6 totaling, $363,544, including payments to Buck Pavement Restoration, $77,560, for crack sealing; Gerken Paving Inc., $140,820, the first payment for the Ohio Public Works Commission project, and John Deere Financial, $17,245, for fuel.
They also approved electronic payments of $623,609, which includes two biweekly payrolls of $304,467 and $257,310, and the elected and appointed officials pay of $11,575.
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 20, at the township meeting hall, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. The meeting also may be viewed live stream at springfieldtown ship.net.
