Madison Township trustees to interview zoning inspector candidates

The Madison Township trustees say they hope to hire a new zoning inspector within the next week or so.

Trustee Cathy Swank reported at the board's regular meeting on Monday that 10 people have expressed an interest in the position, with eight submitting resumes and scheduled for interviews and the two others submitting applications but needing to turn in resumes.

Madison Township has been without a regular zoning inspector since Wayne Liggett retired on Aug. 22, 2022, after serving nearly two years. Both he and his predecessor indicated they left because they did not get the funding or support needed from other public officials, particularly Mansfield Municipal Court, to enforce local zoning regulations and clean up junk and trash in the township.

Since then, trustees hired a temporary zoning inspector to take and approve permits and have asked for applicants but have received sporadic response. In February they agreed to change the pay for the zoning inspector to $600 per month plus 25% of all permit fees and $12.50 per hour for time spent in court.

The lack of a regular zoning inspector has caused some problems that were briefly discussed Monday.

Swank reported that she had investigated several complaints, including a resident who had chickens, properties that have not been mowed and an overgrown property with three goats and a rabbit hutch in the front yard. It was pointed out during one of the two public comment periods that the township is losing money because signs have gone up around the township without permits, including a three-sided billboard at Ohio 39 and Trimble Road and a new sign for a grocery store.

"Since we haven't had a zoning inspector, the mice have sure been playing," Swank said.

During administrative reports, Swank said she recently learned that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has required safety training that road department personnel need to take including first aid, CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator), how to use a fire extinguisher and how to deal with bloodborne pathogens. Fire Chief Ken Justus said his department can handle all but the pathogen course, which can be done through the Red Cross.

Justus told the board during his administrative report that new Tanker 71 is at a Macedonia firm for final inspection and will be put in service after it is lettered and equipment is installed. He said the department has received keys for the Roper lock box system that has been promoted on Facebook and the township website. The boxes can be ordered from the manufacturer through a link its the website and installed by the department.

Justus also reported that fire hydrants on the Madison water or Mansfield City systems are being inspected and repaired. Once that is done, they will be color-coded according to national standards.

Trustees also approved a bookkeeping change to increase the 2023 road district account to reflect a carryover from 2022. The township currently has $299,534 available in the account for summer paving.

Madison trustees are scheduled to open bids for the paving program as part of a special meeting on Thursday. The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. with an executive session to interview zoning inspector candidates. It will resume in open session at 7:30 p.m. for the bid opening and then return to executive session for more interviews.