JACKSONTOWN – For the first time in 24 years, Ron Acord isn’t a Licking Township Trustee.
Joe Hart, who defeated Acord in November, is serving as president this year. Monday night, he presented a tentative agenda and outline for trustee meetings this year. He wants fiscal officerJill Linn to present current balances in the major funds each month. Hart also would like to see a list detailing the expenses Linn presents for approval each meeting. Trustees Joe Cooper and Dave Miller agreed with both of his suggestions.
Hart also wants to include the full-time road worker, Steve Patterson, on the agenda to address any major equipment, road or cemetery issues. He regularly attends meetings as a resident. Cooper worried that Patterson might now expect to be paid for attending meetings. Patterson said he didn’t expect to be paid for attending and would be happy to report on major issues. Fire Chief Mike Wilson will continue to make monthly reports.
In his regular report, zoning inspector Joe Walker said he issued 64 permits in 2007 including 21 for new homes, nine for detached garages, 12 for room additions, six for pole barns and 13 for decks.
Trustees also addressed expiring terms on the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Zoning Commission. Cooper said past practice is to determine whether the expiring member wants to be reappointed and to ask the respective chair’s opinion. Licking County Planning Commission executive director Jerry Brems’ term on Board of Zoning Appeals ended last week. Brems is willing to serve again. “He’s been an outstanding member of our board,” chair Doug Price told trustees. Brems was unanimously approved to a new five-year term.
Dale Ours’ term on the Zoning Commission expired last week. Though neither Ours nor chair Frank Davis were present, Cooper said Ours wanted to return and Davis would like to have him continue. Ours was unanimously reappointed for a new five-year term.
Miller brought up a suggestion from the county engineer’s officeabout possibly simplifying the language on the signs about the new seasonal parking restrictions for The Woods subdivision. Hart suggestioned that any simplication be run by both the prosecutor and sheriff’s office.He wants to make sure that the signs allow the new April 1 through October 31 parking restrictions to be enforced. Cooper will make the appropriate contacts.
Cooper reported that Brad Mercer of the Licking County Planning Commission staff has developed a tracking form process to integrate the role of the planning commission, zoning commission, zoning clerk and trustees in the zoning process. He wants to discuss it with the zoning commission and trustees at the Jan. 22 zoning commission meeting if Mercer is available. “There is an initial feeling that this would be very helpful,” Cooper explained. Records on previous zoning changes often are incomplete in Licking Township and throughout Licking County, Cooper added.
Miller wants to discuss trees along township roads and the township’s policy on driveway culverts at the next meeting. Hart will put it on the agenda for the next meeting.
During public comments, Robert Snedden Sr. asked Hart if trustees will abide by the Ohio Sunshine Laws. Hart assured him that trustees will do so.
Bill Ours, representing the Harbor Hills Civic Association, presented a formal zoning violation complaint to trustees. It involves a shed. “The shed does not meet our zoning or your zoning,” Ours said. He said the shed is on a foundation which requires a permit. Sheds that are movable don’t require permits. Hart asked Walker to take a look at the shed and determine whether a permit was required.
Trustees’ next meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22 due to the Martin Luther King Holiday on Monday, at Licking Township Fire Company station on Ohio 13 just south of U.S. 40.
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