Jerome Township officials are focusing on a list of priorities for 2024 that they feel will keep them busy for much of the year.
“We are sitting in a very good place,” said Township Administrator Brandon Standley.
During the most recent trustees meeting, Standley detailed a number of goals the township staff will work toward achieving this year, ranging from new buildings to new technologies.
Standley said officials are also hoping to see designs for two new buildings within Harry Wolfe Park.
He said the township is also working with Pebble Construction to complete a design for a new Roads Department building, which officials intend to construct near the existing Township Hall.
Likewise, the administrator said officials would like to work toward completing a design for a new activities and communities building which would serve as the new rental facility. It would be built in Harry Wolfe Park, across the pond from the Township Hall.
Along those lines, Standley noted that staff is “actively trying to improve” the Harry Wolfe Park playground.
The township removed the wooden ship playground equipment from the park last year, as Standley noted that it was in disrepair and could pose a safety hazard for children.
Standley said township officials are awaiting notice as to whether they will receive state capital funds to be used for new playground equipment. If that money is not awarded, Standley said he will likely bring forward a request to budget for the project otherwise.
Aside from new facilities, Standley said the township is also prioritizing the use of new technologies.
He said he would like to see the Roads Department begin using the township’s iWorQ software.
The software is already used by the Zoning Department and even allows residents to search for information related to zoning permits.
Standley said Roads Department employees can use the software for fleet maintenance, like tracking vehicle oil changes, and managing when ditches or roads are worked on. Using iWorQ rather than paper documentation would ultimately help the department operate more efficiently, Standley said.
He said he also anticipates livestreaming the township’s meetings in the near future.
Standley said he intends on spending the month of February testing the livestreaming equipment and training township staff on how to use it.
“I don’t see any reason we couldn’t potentially go live in March,” he said.
Livestreaming the meetings will come with a cost, as either the township’s IT consultant, Dustin Newland with eGreen Computers, or staff members will have the manage the equipment.
Standley said he does not yet have a solid quote from Newland as far as his rate, but he is estimating up to $100 per hour. On the other hand, he believes staff members would likely need to be paid $135-$165 in overtime costs based on controlling the livestream for a three-hour meeting.
Standley said he is also looking forward to planning for the future.
He noted that the project to update the township’s comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2008, is on track to be completed “mid-year.” The township is contracting with the consulting firm MKSK to revise the plan.
Standley said he also plans to meet with the township’s department heads for strategic planning sessions, although he said he feels doing so with the fire department will not be necessary as Chief Douglas Stewart manages the planning for JTFD.
In other business:
– The trustees unanimously approved the design for new signs for township cemeteries and parks. Trustee Joe Craft was absent.
Standley explained that the project was slightly delayed because the township approved a new logo, which would be included on the signs, in the middle of the process.
However, he said he is pleased with the final designs for signs for Jerome Cemetery, Pleasant Hill Cemetery and Harry Wolfe Park. In total, they will cost $14,500.
Trustee Wezlynn Davis said she would like to see a sign for New California Cemetery added.
While she said she did not want to delay the process any further, Davis said she feels it will be worthwhile to have an improved sign at New California Cemetery, especially since it is at an entryway to the township.
Trustee Chair Barry Adler agreed.
“It took a while, but some good things take a while,” he said.