A problem with rodents is never good, especially for residents in the Lincoln Green subdivision area who are dealing with a rat population explosion.
At the Springfield Township trustees September 19 meeting, Andy Hohlbein, public services director, said he contacted the Lucas County Health Department after receiving complaints from residents.
Traps were set between Hill and Angola roads where the rats seem to be concentrated.
“We are trying to find out where they are coming from,” he explained, adding that one resident caught four last year and has trapped 27 so far this year.
Mr. Hohlbein believes they could be living in one of several deteriorating sheds in the area, noting rats tend to congregate within 100 feet of a food source, which may be trash dumpsters behind retail establishments.
Trustee Andy Glenn advises residents with pets to pick up after their dogs as rats will go after dog feces.
Mr. Hohlbein plans to speak with the health department and will update the trustees on the issue.
Fire Report
Fire Chief Barry Cousino provided the trustees with his monthly report. The chief said the department recently received a $15,000 donation from the Order of the Eastern Star.
Shelbie Flegel and her K-9 Darwin attended a meeting of the group, whose members were impressed by the two and offered funds to support training and care of the cadaver search dog.
For the township’s HERO program, which assists residents in staying in their homes, the chief presented a list of locations visited by Jodi Livecchi, who heads the program, and the reason for and results of the visits.
The fire chief also reviewed department statistics for July and August. In July, there were 455 runs, 304 of which were in the township, with 65, Holland; 32, Spencer Township; 15, Swanton Township, and five, Harding Township.
In August, the department responded to 440 calls, the majority of which, 308, were in the township. They were followed by 53 in Holland; 28, Spencer Township; 19, Swanton and five, Harding Township.
They also responded to mutual aid calls from Maumee, Monclova Township, Swanton, Sylvania, Sylvania Township and Toledo.
Chief Cousino updated the trustees on recent department activities. Those include: attending all varsity and junior varsity games to provide emergency care if needed; hosting car seat fittings; installing free smoke detectors in residents’ homes; attending a back-toschool event at iLead Spring Meadows, and participating in Party by the Pond.
Last month, the department conducted 20 inspections, including state, 14, followed by final, two, and annual, reinspections, mobile food unit and remodel, one each.
Nine site plans were reviewed and approved for Modwash Express Car Wash, 7001 Orchard Centre Drive, Wonder Ministries, 7001 Angola Road and Barnaby Equipment, 900 North Schwamberger Road, new construction; GameOne, 11500 Tailwinds, Republic Finance, Red Roof Inn, 1214 Corporate Drive, and Grand Aire, 11777 West Airport Service Road, remodeling; Springfield Local Schools, 6924 Spring Valley Drive, sprinkler, and 2-Scale, 7710 Hill Avenue, spray paint booth.
No fire investigations were conducted.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Agreed to engage Express Employment for five people to assist with leaf collection at a cost of $32,000. Leaf collection season will begin October 26, said Mr. Hohlbein.
•Accepted the resignation of Ray Orben from the park board.
•Approved a memorandum of understanding for maintenance of the roundabout at Dorr and King roads. Mr. Hampton said the roundabout island will be similar to the one at King and Nebraska. “It will be pretty much maintenance free,” he added.
•Authorized Mr. Hampton to apply for Ohio Public Works Commission funds, which would be used for road improvements on Bancroft Street and in the Apple Blossom Farms subdivision.
•Paid bills from September 7 to 19 totaling $27,192. They also paid electronic bills from September 2 to 15 totaling $388,819, including the biweekly payroll of $261,869.
•Authorized fiscal officer Barb Dietze to accept tax rates as determined by the budget commission and certifying them to the county auditor.
Revenues are up from last year for roads and bridges and for the fire department, the latter of which, she attributes to passage of the fire renewal levy.
The trustees also authorized the fiscal officer to seek an advance of taxes collected by the county auditor as the funds become available in 2023.
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, October 3, at the township meeting hall, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. The meeting also may be viewed via livestream at springfield township.net.
