MADISON TOWNSHIP — It was apparent from the beginning, the Madison Township Advisory Board’s June 12 meeting would be contentious.

During the adoption of the April 10 meeting minutes, board member Dawn Horock questioned the way board secretary Matthew Pranger recorded what was said and who said what.

She felt what people said was not being recorded accurately. There was some discussion on what should go into the minutes of the meeting. She asked for changes in the minutes for the next meeting.

The board re-elected Nelson Hoggatt as board chairman.

Station 31 update

The most talked about topic during the meeting was the status of Station 31 on Kitchen Road. The station was closed last fall after problems developed with the cement apron in front of the building. After the station was closed, it was determined there were other problems with the building.

Madison Township Trustee Larry Ellis said they moved in a mobile home to provide temporary housing for a three-person crew. He said after the apron was repaired, he planned to move a truck in the building and fire crews in the mobile home. He said the move would be temporary until they determine what should be done with the building.

The old building was constructed many years ago when the department was all volunteer. No one stayed in the building during the night, it was only used to house fire equipment.

Ellis said they have plans for the apron. He said the township will be advertising for bids to install the cement apron.

As for the mobile home, Ellis said REMC has not connected the electricity to the building. He said there were several delays in getting the building hooked out. He said REMC was the cause of the delays.

Ellis said the company that supplied the mobile home has to replace the furnace and air conditioning unit in it. He said once the electricity is connected, the new equipment will be installed.

There was a long discussion among the people in attendance and the board members on the future of Station 31.

Board member Horock said she is concerned the building cannot be “fixed” or updated to meet the current and future needs of the township.

Future growth?

She said Madison Township is going to grow. Horock said she lives in the southern part of the township and that a lot of farmland could be put up for sale. She said some of the children of those farmers are not interested in farming and want to sell the property for the money.

That brought up more discussion and comments about what the township would need in the future.

One resident said they should not spend money for future residents. They need to make those people pay for the needed new improvements.

The comments were mixed, with some wanting a study done to see if the building could be enlarged to meet future needs. Some residents, who live near the station, want the station to be put back in service as soon as possible. They were concerned with the delayed response for medical and fire service.

A couple of neighbors to the station said they were concerned about drainage. They complained of getting stormwater running across their land. (County surveyor Terry Brock was later called about the alleged drainage problem, and he said the township would have to file a drainage plan with the county before doing any work.)

Ellis said they have an engineer who has determined what specifications are needed for the new cement driveway. The estimated cost is around $140,000, and he said the township will have to put it out for bids.

That brought up more comments about who would review those bids and possible conflict of interests.

There was concern that without an overall plan, any work done now may have to be removed to update the building.

A resolution to allow the trustee to ask for bids for the work was discussed as being too “broad” in its scope. It was reduce the repair of the driveway and not any other items that may be needed

.One person in the audience told the board they could not advertise for bids as they had not appropriated the funds for it. She said asking for bids without appropriating the money would be illegal.

The board said without the bids, how would they know how much money would need to be appropriated.

The board voted to allow the trustee to advertise for bids for the cement work.

No decision was made on determining if the building could be used for future needs or would need to be replaced.

Fire department report

According to fire chief Chadwick Coulter, the department has responded to 443 runs this year. They will have 13 full-time employees by July 9. They also have 26 part-time employees.

Current plans are for Station 31 to be staffed by the end of June with three people and one engine.

Agenda drama

Board secretary Matthew Pranger said he was unhappy with the trustee coming up with the board’s agenda. He felt the chairman and board members should make their own agenda. Horock said she had checked with other trustees in the county, and all but one had the trustee come up with the agenda.

Pranger said he felt they were “doing it wrong,” and he wanted Madison Township to do it right. After more discussion, it was decided the chairman and trustee would work together to come up with the agenda.

There were several complaints from the audience about the minutes of the meetings not being posted on the township website. There was some discussion on whether the minutes should be public until they are approved by the board.

~ By Keith Rhoades | Reporter | Published June 20, 2024 in The Morgan County Correspondent