Jackson Township prepares for spring
JACKSON TOWNSHIP — As they wrapped up their final meeting of the winter, Jackson Township trustees were making plans for an active spring in the community.
They include the township’s annual cleanup days and another separate spring cleaning event spearheaded by the local Boy Scouts.
Trustees Greg Vogt, Mark Wright and Mark Eshelman decided to hold the township’s annual two-day spring cleanup event on April 23-24 at the township government site at
Plymouth-springmill and Taylortown roads.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 23 and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 24, Trustees’ Chairman Vogt said.
Jackson Township Road Superintendent Kurt Stumbo is arranging to secure dumpsters that are placed at the township site during the cleanup days.
Earlier at the March 15 meeting, Stumbo had another announcement on a separate effort.
“The Boy Scouts are interested in doing our spring cleanup for the ditches,” Stumbo told trustees.
Last year because of statewide coronavirus health restrictions, the Boy
Scouts were unable to assist Jackson Township in that effort, which is separate from the township’s on-site April 23-24 cleanup event.
For 2021, the trustees agreed to set aside $1,200 to $1,250 to pay the Scouts for their work, an amount similar to previous years.
“It’s two or three weeks,” Stumbo said of the span of time the Scouts would help in the township. “They go out whenever they can, whenever they get a little group” to clean various areas. The vote was 3-0. Also with the spring getting closer, the township is upgrading its mowing equipment.
Trustees are spending $7,999 to buy a new mower designed for large properties.
Similar to the recent sale of its old pickup truck, the township is looking to sell its older mower through sealed bids while reserving the right to reject any and all bids.
Initial information is that the township hopes to get $5,000 to $6,000 for the old mower, trustees were told.
In an interview, Trustee Wright explained the importance of the mower purchase.
“To keep up with the cemeteries and mow them, we’re going to upgrade what we’ve got to another one,” he said.
The March 16 meeting featured a busy agenda and included reports by Jackson Township Inspector Ronald Carpenter and Road Superintendent Stumbo.
Carpenter reported that a resident along Stiving Road is interested in building a garage. Paperwork was pending. Separately, a resident along Smiley Avenue wants to build a barn for horses, Carpenter said. Carpenter is looking to visit the site.
In another matter, Carpenter also spoke with people interested in pursuing a possible land acquisition in the township. He updated them on recent township discussions on the matter, provided several options and directed them to Richland County’s map office.
In his update, Stumbo listed efforts by the township’s road department in recent weeks. Highlights included getting bids to repair the criminal damage of tombstones at London Cemetery, getting the Western Star vehicle fixed, making repairs on Stiving Road, removing a bunch of carpet from a creek on Smiley Avenue and working on the plumbing for a new air compressor. Stumbo thanked local resident Dave Yetzer for his assistance on the compressor project.
Also at the meeting, the township announced it had received its anonymous donation of $1,889 for landscaping for its flag pole site near Taylortown and Plymouthspringmill roads in front of the township complex. Arnold’s Landscaping is doing the work. The township had first received word last fall that a person was interested in anonymously providing funding for the project that was scheduled for this year. Check for more on the trustees’ meeting, including an update from Shelby Fire Chief Mike Thompson, who briefed trustees on ongoing efforts.