Madison Township outlines plans for several summer infrastructure projects

The Madison Township trustees are finalizing plans for summer infrastructure projects including paving, culvert work and guardrail replacement. The largest amount of work involves the township’s 2024 summer road resurfacing program, which includes new asphalt on 14 roads and chip/seal coating to five roads at an estimated cost of nearly $350,000.

The list of roads planned for paving that was presented at Monday night’s regular meeting by Trustee Dan Fletcher includes portions of Berger, Walker, Benedict, Averill, and Herring Avenues, Woodside, Truxall, Fir, Springlake and Lakefront Drives and Molly and Brentwood Courts. Chip/seal is slated for all or parts of Trimble, Hanna, Hahn and Ridge Roads and Hickory Lane.

Fletcher had prepared a resolution and related bid specifications for a vote on Monday. However, the board delayed action until a special meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday to include Bentwood and Home Roads, which were recommended for work by Richland County Engineer Adam Gove in a weekend e-mail.

The cost of the Home Road project will be split with Springfield Township while the rest of the work will be paid for with township road levy funds. The township currently has around $350,000 in the road fund, which includes a carryover from 2023.

Storm sewer project moving forward

Trustees also voted Monday to put out a request for proposals from the engineering firm Schaefer, Johnson and Lichtenwalter for topographical and property surveys, hydraulic data details of temporary sewer support during construction and a detailed quantity sheet for construction items for the Manner Drive storm sewer project. The project will upgrade or replace a 30-inch culvert on the east side of the intersection of Eastview and Manner Drives which currently is not big enough to deal with all of the water that flows through Eastview area.

Trustees voted at their March 20 meeting to designate up to $150,000 of the township’s American Rescue Plan allocation to pay for the project engineering, design and construction costs.

Fletcher also told the board he would reach out to Purdy Construction to come up with a plan to repair or replace a guardrail at the corner of Beall Avenue and Fleming Falls Road. He said Gove also talked with about some possible signage at the intersection instead of the guardrail work.

“Adam talked with me and he said if we put it up again, it needs to be brought up to code, which means it needs sweeps at both ends, and it does not have that,” noted Trustee Tom Craft. “The posts also need to be brought up to snuff.”

On a separate issue, trustees discussed whether to close a portion of Belmont Avenue or place steel plates in an area where Fletcher said a culvert is “failing terribly.” The board will look into the possibility of borrowing plates from another agency to cover the area after learning it could cost at least $500 per month to rent them.

Craft cautioned Fire Chief Ken Justus not to have any department heavy equipment drive over the area.

“I would not suggest driving the tanker close to it,” he said. “You drive a tanker with a load of water on it, it could get a little bit hairy.”

Trustees formally voted to seek design and cost proposals from several local firms to replace the culvert.

During his administrative report, Justus said VASU Communications checked the local tornado siren and discovered it needs new batteries and new chargers to replace ones that are more than seven years old. He also reported that he went to New Jersey to pick up the new Medic 73, which is being lettered and striped and will undergo a maintenance inspection before being put into service.

Township seeks summer help

In other business on Monday, the Madison Trustees agreed to commit to buying 1,000 tons of winter road salt as part of the county engineer’s annual purchasing program. They also learned that the township will receive a $3,568 refund from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation for premiums paid between 2020 and 2022.

Following an executive session at the end of the regular agenda, trustees voted to advertise for seasonal help for the road department from June 1 to Sept. 1 to “aid in road department operations.” Starting pay will be $18 per hour which is negotiable based on experience.

Applicants must have an Ohio drivers’ license with a commercial drivers’ license optional. Resumes can be sent electronically to clerk@madisontwp.us.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Madison Township getting ready for summer paving and culvert repairs