Manchester Township discusses planning issues, trail completion

Manchester Township Hall

submitted by Sybil Kolon

All board members were present at the August 13 board meeting. Also present were fire chief Bill Scully; planning commissioners Carl Werner and Mike Walter; and a few other members of the public.

During public comment, a resident noted there had been a speed limit sign posted at the west edge of town where the city limit ends and Main Street becomes Austin Road, indicating that the city speed limit of 25 ends at that point. This had been noted at the last meeting. Some people have experienced cars not speeding up as they head west, thinking the city speed limit still applied.

Fire chief Bill Scully provided the monthly report for July. There were 39 calls for service, including 26 EMS responses, two fires, and one HAZMAT incident. The old fire truck has been sold. The fire department was on standby during the fireworks and responded to a few minor incidents. They also performed one rescue at the fair.

Supervisor Ron Milkey reported that zoning administrator Carl Macomber had received a request for a variance and a rezoning. Those will be handled by the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission. Macomber is following up on current blight issues.

Trustee Mike Fusilier provided a report from the Planning Commission. They are looking at a rezoning request for the barn at Sharon Hollow and Austin Roads. The Planning Commission is also working on updates to the solar ordinance and intends to get it to the board in time for it to be passed before a new state law goes into effect in November.

The board agreed to allow the Land Preservation Committee until the end of the year to submit their report. Their original charge had requested they complete their report by September.

The board approved a bid to install new fencing at Reynolds Cemetery. It will allow for two gates. A third gate has not been working and was determined to be unnecessary. The existing fence is at least 60 years old and very rusted.

The board discussed a request from the Manchester Senior Citizens for materials for the new community/senior center. The fundraising appeal was successful to convert an unheated space located outside of city hall into a new senior center. The board is seeking more details on the request and is seeking clarification, with the understanding these materials will not be needed until the new center is opened. The board has supported the senior center in the past and intends to continue doing so.

Milkey indicated that committees dealing with asset division for the city and township, relating to the village becoming a city, met recently. The city provided a counteroffer, which will be discussed in closed session.

The board reviewed bids for the construction of Phase I of the non-motorized trail to Watkins State Park & County Preserve for the stretch of the trail from the city to Grossman Road. The board approved a base price of $325,000 and an alternate bid of $34,000 that will cover a retaining wall, if needed. If the township had not approved the alternate bid and the retaining wall was needed, the cost to bid that out would be much higher. If the retaining wall is needed, the township will seek additional funding, as that would take the project over budget. For this phase of the project, the township match was $20,000. Construction is expected to start in September and be completed in December.

The board voted to approve a resolution to support a grant application for final design and construction of Phase II of the trail, from Grossman Road to Teijin Stamping, where the existing trail from Watkins State Park and County Preserve reaches Austin Road. The grant will cover up to $600,000. Additional funding is expected to be needed. The township match for this section of the trail will also be $20,000. This trail is a high priority for the county and the state and receipt of this grant would go a long way toward getting the trail completed.

The board went into closed session to discuss matters of attorney work product and attorney/client privilege at 7:58pm and returned to regular session at 8:39pm.

Clerk Danell Proctor reported 438 absentee ballots were received for the primary election on August 6; five people took advantage of early voting; and 191 people voted in person, for a total of 27% voter participation. The board delayed their regular September meeting until September 17 to allow the board to attend training about emergency services.

For as little as $1 a month, you can keep Manchester-focused news coverage alive.

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.