Board appoints Yellow Creek Watershed Committee

Bath Township Board of Trustees

By Anne Dennée

Bath Township’s longstanding efforts to protect and preserve Yellow Creek and the surrounding watershed took another step forward this week. On Feb. 6, the Bath Board of Trustees officially appointed the Yellow Creek Watershed Committee.

“Clean water is the emphasis of this effort,” said Trustee Donald Jenkins, adding that the township is taking a lead in the stewardship of the watershed, which is spread over nine jurisdictions.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency lists Yellow Creek as the highest quality stream flowing into the lower Cuyahoga River, but also cites it as a “rapidly urbanizing” watershed under significant threat from the increasing effects of urbanization.

The new committee, which has been meeting informally for several months, will oversee implementation of the Yellow Creek Watershed Action Plan. The plan, which was prepared by the Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning Committee, defines multiple goals and strategies to improve water quality and storm water management in the watershed.

The trustees’ meeting room was packed with many of the committee members, including Jim Bambrick, chairman of the steering committee.

“I think it’s really incredible what Bath Township is putting forward,” Bambrick said. “We’re thinking long term, for the next 50 to 100 years. We’re going to put our best effort to preserve the watershed for future generations.”

Other members of the committee include Jeff VanFossen (vice-chairman), Maryanne Rackoff (secretary), Bruce Robinson, Marguerite France, Jeff Kerr, Nancy Ray, John Vittum and Bill Trommer. Jenkins is an ex-officio member.

Members of the Education, Information and Community Involvement Subcommittee are Bambrick (chairman), Robinson (vice-chairman), France (recorder), Terry Greathouse, Mike Samolis, Ira Sasowsky, Norma Setteur and Rosalie Steiner.

Members of the Preservation and Conservation Subcommittee are VanFossen (chairman), Kerr (vice-chairman), Rackoff (recorder), Laurie Lappin, Martin Murphy, Chuck Reitz, Sabet Sabet and Jack Sahl.

Members of the Restoration Subcommittee are Ray (chairman), Vittum (vice-chairman), Trommer (recorder), Dan Fritz, Judy Hanna, Bill Pierce, Dan Richards and David White.

Resource personnel include Laura DeYoung, Elaine Marsh, Mike Rorar (administrator of the Bath Parks Department) and Jim White.

In other business, Fire Chief James Paulett reported the fire department had its annual awards banquet Jan. 14, when firemedic Chris Anselm was named 2005 firefighter of the year. Anselm, who served seven months in Iraq with the Marines 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment, presented a battle flag to the fire department. The flag was flown at Camp Hit in Iraq by his regiment this past Sept. 11. The flag is on display in the township rotunda while the fire department chooses a permanent display site.

Several firefighters were recognized for achieving milestones of service: Larry Hershey (60 years); Tom Kamp (25 years); Kevin Hylbert and Chip Seifert (20 years); Tim Pawlak (15 years); Terry Brock (10 years); and Frank DeLorenzo, Charmaine Zawacki, Keith Moore and Chris Bower (five years). Jim Brock was recognized as the department’s “high responder” to emergency calls, with 631 responses.

In personnel news, trustees hired Steven Weinert as a probationary, part-time volunteer firefighter trainee. Part-time probationary firefighters Brian Fetzer and Brian Semon were promoted to part-time volunteer firefighters, and Bower and Charles Worrell were removed from the fire department roster.

The board also approved an amendment to the township’s organizational resolution that seeks to recapture education expenses from certain ex-employees. The amendment states that when an employee leaves, he or she will be responsible for reimbursing the township for any college-level education expenses incurred by the township on his or her behalf in the three years prior to the end of employment.

Trustees approved Township Administrator William Snow’s request to apply for a $1,500 grant from the Summit/Akron Solid Waste Management Authority to promote recycling in the township.

Snow took a moment to note the Jan. 30 death of Bob Elrod, calling him “a friend and supporter of anything Bath.” Snow added, “[Elrod’s] name was synonymous with Bath Historic Town Hall as the ‘keeper of the keys,’ and his participation in the Memorial Day observances will always be remembered.”

The board also approved the following expenditures:

• $89,498 for an International DT 570 truck chassis along with a Gledhill Machinery Co. low-profile dump assembly for the service department;

• $86,698 for one-half the costs of work completed on Fire Station No. 2, a joint effort between Bath and Copley townships: $79,516 to Cavanaugh Construction and $7,182 to Sutter Electric;

• $59,239 for three biphasic Lifepak-12 heart monitors with 12-lead EKG capabilities for the fire department; and

• an $11,207 service agreement with B & C Communications for the township’s 800 MHz radio system.

Calendar items include a CPR class Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the fire department training room. The training is sponsored by the parks department for all new trail corps members, but the class also is open to members of the public.

Bath Township’s offices will be closed Feb. 20 for Presidents’ Day; however, there will be no effect on the trash pickup schedule. The next regular Bath Township Board of Trustees meeting will be Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. at the Administration Complex, 3864 W. Bath Road.

From the February 9, 2006 issue of the West Side Leader.  Reprinted with permission of the West Side Leader