JACKSON CENTER — Chairman Larry Sprague reports that the Jackson Township Board of Trustees had a successful year in 2015.
His report continues:
Issue I funds were received in 2015, and paving was completed on portions of Wise Road and Meranda Road. Road maintenance was completed on the remaining township roads this year. The township maintains in total 25.664 miles of roadway.
The township saw growth in 2015, with Plastipak adding an additional building and Bambauer Fertilizer’s increase in production. There was also an increase in zoning permits issued in 2015 by the Township showing additional residential growth.
Also in 2015, following the dissolution of the Jackson Center Rescue Squad, the Jackson Township Trustees were able to successfully resolve the rescue squad situation for all township residents by signing a 5-year contract with Anna Rescue, while never having a break in service throughout the negotiations. Thanks to a monetary donation and the donation of one rescue squad vehicle from Jackson Center Rescue, the funding for rescue squad protection was secured for 2015. A special levy to fund rescue squad services in the future was put on the ballot in November 2015. Thanks to the passage of the levy by the Jackson Township voters, the trustees are happy to report that funding for the rescue contract was secured for the next five years. The rescue levy will be up for renewal at the end of five years.
At the Jan. 4, 2016 reorganization meeting I was elected chairman, John Mann was elected vice chairman, and Robert Zorn is the third trustee. Diane Frank is the fiscal officer. Ray Davis continues to serve as the zoning officer.
Meeting times for the trustees will remain on the third Thursday of each month, beginning at 7 p.m. If there are any scheduling conflicts resulting in a change of meeting date or time, or any special meetings set, the information will be posted at the township building.
Roads districts for the trustees will remain as follows. Mann’s district is north of state Route 274, my district is south of state Route 274 and east of state Route 65 and Zorn’s district is south of state Route 274 and west of state Route 65.
Long-time Zoning Board member, Ralph Zwiebel, retired in January 2016. The Trustees wish to thank him for his many years of trusted leadership and valuable experience on the Zoning Board, as well as serving as Jackson Township’s representative on the Shelby County Regional Planning Commission for many years. Remaining members of the Zoning Board are Willis Fogt, Harry Noah, James Poppe and Ron Wiessinger. Any Jackson Township resident interested in serving as a member of the Zoning Board is asked to contact one of the Trustees for more information. The Zoning Board reorganized for the new year on Feb. 18, 2016.
Appeals Board members are Bert Regula, Ray Davis, Herman McBride, Tim Davis and James W. Davis. The Appeals Board reorganized for the new year on Jan. 21, 2016. Officers for 2016 are Bert Regula, chairman, and Herman McBride, vice chairman.
The trustees want to advise all township landowners and building contractors working in the area that Jackson Township does have zoning regulations and before beginning construction, they need to contact the Zoning Officer Ray Davis for clarification of zoning for their property so as to obtain the correct permits prior to beginning construction. The Zoning Officer can be reached at 937-596-6279.
Regarding township roads, railroad crossings on township roads will be upgraded in the near future by the railroad, with stop signs replacing the current yield signs. The exact date of the sign replacements is unknown.
