May 2026
NEWTON TOWNSHIP MINUTES 5-12-2026
Newton Township Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. 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: Sam Lantz, Brandon Stackhouse, and Jill Beckert.
Meeting was called to order by Trustee Dozer at 6:00 pm.
Pledge to the flag was led by Derek Dozer.
Agenda: approved.
Minutes: Page 3 – International Truck – elimination of property taxes – they are pricing for a truck to replace a very old rusty truck that is costing a lot to maintain.
Under Trustee reports - Derek received a call about a resident on Butler Road by Carter Lumber.
Under Larken’s reports – 2nd bullet point – should say draining not training
Public Participation:
· Jill Beckert is here to get an update on the bar on SR 93 (4325 Roseville Road) that is in disrepair. She said the property was sold at Sheriff’s sale to an investment company, so she is just following up on what is happening next. Craig said if they file for building permits, they will be under the control of the building department. Occupancy will fall back on the fire department. Craig said he would see if he could find a number for them and find out what their plans are.
Fire Department Business:
· There were 94 dispatched calls in April - 59 in Muskingum County and 35 in Perry County. They are at 467 for the year. Averaging 3.9 calls per day.
· 15 call-off’s that left 5 uncovered shifts.
· There is an issue with the sewer mound at the department. Craig turned it over to Jason to discuss. He has not had a chance to check it out yet, but it is not working properly. There is water coming out of it. Derek asked that we make sure to follow the proper process on getting it fixed. Jason said he would talk to the Health Department to see what they require.
· Pat Kelly has the plans finished for the exterior door and
· Ohio Fire Chiefs met on Monday regarding tax abolishment referendum. The organization collecting signatures to have this placed on the November ballot, have 300 some thousand signatures, but they need 400 some thousand in order to get that on the ballot. In order for them to submit they need closer to 600,000 due to some signatures being rejected, etc. There is a good chance they won’t have enough signatures by the July 1st deadline. If they get the bare minimum signatures, they can submit, but if they drop below the minimum then they lose all their signatures that they already got plus their wording for the ballot. They would have to start from scratch. If they would opt to not file the petition, due to signature shortage, they would get to keep all those signatures and their ballot wording. If anyone, who has signed, changes their address, their signature will be void.
· The Ways and Means Committee is also discussing permanent levies. The discussion involves doing away with all permanent levies. Everything would go back to levies being renewed every so many years. The legislators behind this movement don’t think it is fair that levies stay active for many years.
· Cybersecurity meeting with OTARMA – Craig said there are some new policies that will need put into place about websites being ADA compliant, website security and email accounts need to not be personal accounts. Like using email addresses set up as xxx@newtontownship.org. Everything else was good.
Assistant Chief: None.
Road Report:
· Culvert is cleaned out on Stine. Jason thinks the tree causing the problem needs taken out.
· Dona Drive – weed and seeded the landowner’s yard and cleaned it all up.
· Jason is burying a horse tomorrow morning
· Culvert on Crock
· They have been ditching a lot. They are going to put some cold mix on Darlington soon.
· The Ford 550 is running correctly for now.
· Bethel Cemetery – they removed a tree there so it could be mowed.
· Jason talked to JD List about the cemetery behind his house because Tad is having trouble getting to that cemetery to mow. He may need to talk to JD’s neighbor also so they can be in agreement.
· Jason needs some more placed to dump fill dirt coming out of the ditches – it will not be clean dirt.
· Larken asked if it was the township’s responsibility to upkeep cemeteries. Derek said tree clearing would be our responsibility. Don’t want trees to fall and damage stones.
· Tad asked about the cemetery at Old Town and Carson and how he should mow that. Derek said to just continue how it has been done.
· There is still trash being dumped on Lower Kroft.
· The John Deere will need the air conditioner fixed before it is time to mow road sides. Mowing to begin the end of May.
· Freightliner still has an issue with the belt line motor.
· Ditched on Crock Road.
· Roger Pletcher on Butcherknife Road – he is constantly in the ditch and dragging stuff all over the road. Derek will reach out to him.
Old Business:
· Bob Mock purchased additional property on Thompson Run and he gave Larken permission to take all the trees off the bank.
· Wisecarver – Butler Road – they are cleaning up their scrap metal, etc. as best they can.
New Business:
· Larken says there are 3 bad spots on the hill on Georgia Pines. Jan Crawmer (Birkhimer Asphalt) met out there this morning to get an idea on what it will take to get them fixed. Larken figures 160’ total that needs repaired. It will be $7250 to fix them. It looks like where large vehicles are braking going down the hill is where the breakage is happening. Derek made a motion to have Birkhimer fix those. Larken seconded the motion. Motion carried.
· Stine and Nutter both have similar issues. Randy suggested having Birkhimer check those also and get prices.
· Derek said they may have to visit chip sealing some of these roads that pavement is falling apart.
· Larken said Moxadarla has been chip sealed for two years and it is still doing pretty good.
· Larken got a price on Nutter to patch and it is $2000 for that one.
· FO will get numbers together for next meeting on money available for chip seal and paving since they purchased the new truck.
· Craig said someone cut a hole in Broadvue and filled it in with stone and all the stone has come out.
Trustees Reports:
Elson –
· Pace Road – patch holes and grade.
· 3590 Foxfire – Roger Penrod – culvert needs cleaned out.
· Jim Smith wants to know what is going on with the berm in Avondale.
Dozer –
· Jim Smith wants to build a garage and wants to meet with Derek.
· Travis Henry – 4220 Roseville Road – storm drain that is caving in.
· Abandoned, falling down buildings in Fultonham. Two or three that are dangerous to be around. Craig signed a form that one of the buildings needed to immediately come down due to asbestos, etc.
· Connie Newton – how to handle yard waste.
· Adam Swingle – Crock Road – culvert – Jason has fixed that.
· Dead horse – Wesley Chapel Road – Jason taking care of.
· Maddy Fraioli – home burial / family cemetery.
· Payne Road – hill coming from Swackhammer is rough. Jason would like to widen that a little bit. There is a guide wire on a telephone pole that might cause an issue with widening.
· Muskingum Soil and Water / EPA called Derek about dumping sand or dirt behind the garage – you have to file a permit to do that. Jason said they haven’t dumped anything over that bank forever.
Slack –
· None.
Fiscal Officer Report:
· Distributed Grassroots Clippings
· The township received a rebate check from Anthem in the amount of $5672.71.
· Distributed a letter from Englefield about another price increase taking affect in May of this year.
· FO had a call from Zane Goldsmith 5-9-26 saying the One-Way sign at the corner of Maple Street and Bagley Road was missing and he has witnessed people going the wrong way. FO texted Jason and Sam to let them know.
· Any changes to the OTARMA renewal documents? The questionnaire needs returned by the 1st of June to Wendy at OTARMA.
· Garage phone has been disconnected since they no longer use it.
· FO received a card from Madeline Fraioli asking that it be put on record that she and Howard David Peller wish to be buried on their farm, along with any loved ones who live on the farm down the road, who wish to be buried there as well. Property being – Rosehill Farm LLC – 47-94-34-24-002, located at 7680 Rosehill Road, Roseville, OH.
· The auditor has reached out about the use of ARPA funds to pay off the 2021 medic, stating that the funds were not allowed to pay off loans. FO responded that the reason a loan was taken out was because delivery of the medic was occurring before the ARPA money was going to be available to use. Therefore, the loan was taken knowing that it would be paid off as soon as ARPA money was deposited. Audit has stated that the Federal Treasury may require those monies to be paid back since they were used to pay a loan. That amount being $238,444.35. FO has reviewed all 3 ARPA Final Rule’s and each state that loans cannot be paid with ARPA funds. Craig said that Treasury may not want the money back because they don’t know where to put it.
· Maysville Water – would someone please follow up with them on the large bill from last month? And ask that late charges be removed from both accounts. Maybe have them email me amounts due and FO will get those paid by the end of the month.
Trustee Dozer made a motion to pay bills. Trustee Slack 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 June 9, 2026 at 6:00 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 7:43 pm.
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