As 2020 comes to a close, Jerome Township officials are looking to the future.
The trustees held a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the 2021 budget.
“I’m really smiling under this mask,” Trustee Chair Joe Craft said, adding he felt the township was more prepared for the upcoming year than it has been historically.
Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell agreed. He said the board will approve the 2021 budget at the end of the month, but wanted to discuss “larger ticket items” prior to doing so.
Director of Departments Douglas Stewart said there are several areas that could see notable expenditures in the near future, if not next year.
He said he wanted to make the trustees aware of planned improvements for the township building and expenditures regarding the roads, zoning and parks departments, although some are long-term projects.
Stewart said officials have been working over the past several years to improve the township building, which was not previously renovated since its creation in the 1980s.
“We do have a significant investment in this building and I think we need to perfect it,” he said.
Since last year, the doors, windows and siding of the building were replaced. The carpeting is currently being replaced with vinyl flooring using CARES Act dollars.
Stewart said the roof is the next significant renovation the building needs. He noted that staff is also researching the payback of solar panels, which trustees supported.
The siding on the rear of the building also needs replaced, Stewart said.
Inside the township building, he said lighting should be replaced with LED lights and new ceiling tiles will be added, as well.
Stewart, who also serves as the Jerome Township Division of Fire Chief, said the building does not currently have a fire alarm system.
He said he would like to install one, along with a carbon dioxide (CO2) monitor in the rear of the building where vehicles frequently enter and exit.
The building is also lacking a backup generator. Stewart said he would like to purchase a new generator for the fire station, which would cost between $30,000 and $35,000, and move the fire department’s generator to the township building.
Stewart said one of the most notable expenditures for 2021 falls under the roads division.
He said the township is severely in need of a new salt barn.
The current building was “built on a budget,” he said, and the “walls just have not held up.”
Stewart said two sides of the salt barn are “pushed out” and the rear side of the building is on the verge of collapsing.
On top of structural issues, Stewart said the building was poorly designed to begin with.
When salt is delivered, he said it cannot be dropped off directly inside the salt barn. Instead, it is dumped in the township building parking lot and loaded into the barn with skid steers.
He said he would like the township to invest in constructing a hoop-style salt barn that a dump truck could back into to unload salt.
Stewart said he would also like to add a concrete pad near the salt barn to park vehicles.
There should also be a separate, small area to store cold patch separate from the salt, he said. It is currently stored in the salt barn, which can render the cold patch material ineffective.
The director of departments said the roads division is also in need of several new vehicles.
He said the township has spent “a great deal of money” repeatedly repairing its skid steer. This year, Stewart said it has experienced hydraulic failures and electrical issues.
The International plow truck has caused similar problems for the township.
Stewart said they have spent $15,000 over the past two years “just to get it by” to pass inspections.
After trade-ins, he said it would cost the township $108,000 for two new plow trucks and a skid steer.
Along with vehicles, Stewart said the roads crew needs new sign safety equipment to protect them while working. They have also requested a larger trailer that can load all three mowers.
“Moving forward, this will set up the roads division pretty good,” he said.
The township is also planning for road improvements.
Stewart said he feels the township should budget a minimum of this year’s amount – $140,000 – for road improvements next year.
He said Ward Road is the priority for 2021, but the weather will determine exactly how much the township allocates for roads overall.
“Even the best budget we put down, the winter is going to dictate those numbers,” Stewart said.
The largest anticipated expenses in the zoning department revolve around personnel.
Stewart said the department would like to add an assistant zoning inspector, although the salary for the position has not yet been established.
He said the township is also in need of mapping software, as it currently uses its zoning intern’s access to GIS software through Ohio State.
In the future, he said the zoning department could use an additional vehicle for inspections and more computers.
Lastly, Stewart proposed a couple expenditures surrounding the parks department.
He said the pond is stocked every other year and is due in 2021. The township typically budgets approximately $2,000 for the pond.
Stewart said officials also need to set a budget for digital message board signs outside of the township building and fire department.
The trustees generally agreed with Stewart’s assessment of needs throughout township departments.
They unanimously scheduled a special meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 29 to review and vote on the 2021 budget.