November 2025
NEWTON TOWNSHIP MINUTES 11-11-2025
Newton Township Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Those in attendance were Fire Chief, Craig Knox; Larken Slack, Derek Dozer and Randy Elson; Township Trustees and Paula Frank, Fiscal Officer. Also in attendance were Township residents: Brandon Stackhouse, Scott Frank, and Shane Stephenson.
Meeting was called to order by Trustee Elson at 6:00 pm.
Pledge to the flag was led by Randy Elson.
Agenda: approved.
Minutes: *******Typo on 3rd bullet down on FD report******
Public Participation: None
Fire Department Business:
· There were 124 dispatched calls in October – 79 in Muskingum County and 45 in Perry County making 1,359 runs for the year which is an average of 4 ˝ per day.
· There were no uncovered 12 – hour shifts in October and they had 13 call offs.
· They received notice from the State that the Training Division is under investigation for wrongdoing by a former employee while he was employed as the Training Coordinator. Josh Bryan is being investigated for forging signatures on applications that were submitted to the State. The student had disclosed a criminal record on his initial application. The student took another class at Newton and that application did not disclose that he had a criminal record. The State confronted the student about the discrepancy, the student claimed he did not file the form. Goes to their review board meeting next week. Derek asked what they could do and Craig said they could suspend their charter or put them on academic probation for a few years. Craig asked that they turn it over to local law enforcement and the Prosecutor’s office because that is criminal conduct. Derek asked if Josh was participating and Craig said he does not know. Derek asked if the student became a firefighter and Craig said he was not sure because that is part of the investigation. The State is reviewing hundreds of their application files as part of the investigation. The student in question had disclosed the criminal record on a previous application but it was not disclosed on the application in question. Craig said that it needs disclosed every time he renews his license or adds additional training.
· The SCBA compressor replacement was less than $2,000.
· The stationary compressor had the head go out on it. Replacement part is over $1500 and a brand-new compressor is $1200 so he has ordered a new compressor.
· Crooksville is going to buy some used hose from the fire department so Resolution 14/2025 was presented to approve that sale – 1,000 feet for $.50 / foot.
· Grant was received from The Energy Cooperative for Operation Round Up to be used for the purchase of a battery powered PPV fan and one battery.
· The building is currently operating on the old boiler. The new boiler is need of some parts. There are two pumps for the bay floor that aren’t working so they have ordered pumps for that.
· The roof – Craig has called Monarch and they are not returning his calls. Craig said if the board is ok with it, they will hold off on repairing the roof until next year.
· The building department has an issue with the work being done on the building to cover the stairwell on the side of building. Craig has filled out the application but the building department employee is arguing with him. They placed a stop work sign on the door. The employee wants steel trusses for the roof and steel walls and masonry. The part of the building code that they are saying the department is violating is whatever the existing structure is, any alterations or additions have to match that. Larken said the only thing he could see was they might have to have a steel door instead of what is currently there. Jason Baughman is the employee and he is determined that he is going to fine the department. Craig has asked the Commissioners to waive the fines. Drake Prouty is checking with Mark Zanghi to see if they will be permitted to waive the fines. Pat Kelly is looking into it to see what he can do also.
· There is someone that wants to build a venue on Crock Road and he called Craig about a fire suppressor system that the building department said he needed.
Assistant Chief: None
Road Report:
· Salt has all been delivered
· Had to fix the brakes on the Ford F-350
· They have started getting things ramped up for winter
· They are finishing up some odds and ends on culvert work
Old Business:
· None.
New Business:
· None.
Trustees Reports:
Elson –
Asked Jason about “no dumping” signs
· Stop ahead flashing lots are still not working
· Lower Kroft – Jason hasn’t made it there yet
· Sunset and Stine Road signs look good
Dozer –
Culvert on Dona Drive – Jim Anderson – he is going to try to have it by the end of next week
· Bob Smallwood said there is an “x” on the road in front of his house and he wondered what it was for. Jason said the state had been doing that.
· Someone called to inquire about when the bidding will take place for cemetery mowing for next year.
Slack –
Culverts – additional one on Dona Drive – and one on Harlan Road has to go clear across the road. Jason said there is one on Greenhouse too.
· Culvert across from Dan McConnel – will need to wait until Spring
· Jenkins addition – another culvert needs replaced there
· They tried to clean out the ditch across from Roberts Addition. They will finish on Thursday this week.
· Larken mentioned that the hill going up into Georgia Pines has asphalt slippage that will need addressed next year.
Fiscal Officer Report:
· Distributed Grassroots Clippings
· Payment to Shelly Company will be shorted $4,188.86 due to invoice being over that much compared to the contract signed with Shelly. Larken will follow up with Adam Foshee about the overcharge.
Trustee Slack made a motion to pay bills. Trustee Dozer seconded the motion. Motion carried.
All bills presented were deemed to be valid expenditures and were to be paid as presented.
The next monthly meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 6:00 pm. The year-end closeout meeting will be on Friday, December 26, 2025 at 6:00 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm.
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