For the third quarter of 2003, Amherst Township recycled the following quantities through the “Blue Bag” program:

1.5 tons of aluminum cans
             7.4 tons of bi-metal cans
             14.0 tons of glass
               4.0 tons of HDPE plastics
               3.2 tons of PETE plastics
31.6 tons of newspapers
14.8 tons of scrap metal through the dumpster program

Question concerning the “Blue Bag” program may be directed to BFI at 458-5191 or David Urig at 988-8256.

Amherst Township has set the following dates for “Dumpster Days” in 2004:

April 1, 2, 3
July 8, 9, 10
October 7, 8, 9

Hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Please note:  NO TIRES WITH RIMS!
NO PROPANE TANKS!Drop-Off Hours for Yard Waste!!

The waste drop-off area is now fenced and gated.  Christmas Trees, brush, limbs, grass clippings, and leaves may be brought to the rear of the Amherst Township Garage at the following times:

• 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Mon – Fri
• 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Saturday
• Amherst Township Residents only
• I.D. will be checked
• No Commercial

The garage is located at 7530 Oberlin Road.

Newspapers, cans, glass, and 1’s & 2’s plastics can be placed at your curb in blue bags for BFI pick-up. Newspapers should be “blue bagged” separately.

Township Hall & Garage
Office (Zoning INspector).......988-5866
Fax...................................988-5877
Road Superintendent.............988-5833
Email: amhersttwproads@comcast.net
Clerk.................................988-5894
Office Hours for Zoning Insp:
Mon., Wed. & Sat. – 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Voice Mail is checked daily
Email: amhersttwpzoning@comcast.net
Don Gargas, Zoning Inspector

Trustees
Dennis Abraham...................986-455
(Ambulance, Cemetery, Park, Water, Roads,
Ditches, Enterprise Zones, county Health Rep.)
Neil Lynch............................988-7681
(Sewer, Fire Land, Equipment, Personnel, LORCO,
Senior Services, Zoning)
David C. Urig.........................988-8256
(Lighting, Buildings, Solid Waste, Phase II Storm
Water/Environmental Strategy, Alternate County
Health Rep.)

Clerk
John Koval.............................233-5744

Amherst Twp Senior Services Office
Carol Schmitkons....................988-5822
Office Hours – Mon thru Fri – 9am to 1pm

Fire Prevention Officer
Wayne Eppley.........................324-3921

Road Superintendent
John Szefeyk..........................988-7045

Exec, Director of North Central EMS
Don Ballah..............................1-800-589-2515

Sheriff's Department................329-3710

Amherst Township Meetings may be viewed on Amherst Cable Channel 12. They will air for 7 days, running Monday through Monday, following the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. Air times are 9:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.

Have a problem? Complaint forms are available at the Township Hall, inside the white bulletin board.

Conservation Development

Smart Growth, Balanced Growth, Livable Communities, Quality of Life, Planned Unit Development and “preserving rural character”.  These are terms we hear and read about daily within communities wrestling with the question of development and land use planning.  Ultimately, Amherst Township must encourage growth that will help the township prosper, but keep the rural character and community identity intact.

One concept under consideration, and consideration only, is Conservation Development.  Conservation Development is based on a simple concept: start with the same number of homes that would be allowed in a traditional subdivision on a particular parcel of land, and allow a developer more flexibility in locating them on the property, while requiring that a substantial (over 40%) of the land be set aside as permanent open space.  That flexibility and open-space protection provide room for many practices that will:

• serve to buffer the impacts of development on the countryside
• reduce stormwater flow through retention and detention
• less impervious surface
• increase filtering of stormwater
• reduce heat reflection
• retain original vegetation and historic structures
• allow continued agriculture.

Electricity & Natural Gas Savings

Residents may be able to save money if Amherst Township joins the North East Ohio Public Energy Council.  The North East Ohio Public Energy Council, or NOPEC, is made up of 112 member communities, large and small, spread across eight Northeast counties.  Voters in each of these communities approved the formation of NOPEC in November 2000, by passing ordinances or resolutions that authorized their local government to aggregate all utility customers within the community.

The concept of NOPEC is a simple one.  By banding together into one large buying group, the communities gain leverage in the deregulated marketplace.  The individual utility customers NOPEC represents enjoy the advantages of bulk buying power, professional expertise, and consumer advocacy on their behalf.  With more than 600,000 potential customers, NOPEC is the largest public aggregation in the United States.

Eight communities in Lorain County belong to NOPEC.  They include Avon, Avon Lake, Elyria, Lorain, South Amherst, Sheffield Lake, Sheffield Village and North Ridgeville.  The trustees have passed resolutions that would allow Amherst Township residents to decide if they would like to join NOPEC.  It has been estimated that joining NOPEC could save residents $50 to $70 per year on their gas and electric bill.

The issues of Electricity and Natural Gas aggregation will appear on the March 02, 2004 ballot.

If voters pass this issue, the individual consumer could still “opt-out” of the program and stay with their current gas

and electric supplier.

For more information regarding NOPEC, visit their website at: www.nopecinfo.org

Homeland Security

Trustees have indicated support for this idea, and have joined with other communities of Lorain County in requesting Homeland Security Equipment Grant Funding to support a countywide radio communication system.  This new system will improve communication between Amherst Township and emergency and medical service providers in the event of future electrical power interruptions.

Residents are reminded that permits are needed for pools, decks, porches, patios, gazebos, fences, ponds, signs, garages, new construction, building additions, and accessory buildings.  When a permit is applied for before the start of construction, the fee will be reduced by 50%.  Be sure you or your contractor has obtained a permit.  Payments must be made by check only. Cash is not accepted.

Cemetery lots are available at Kendeigh Cemetery, located at the intersection of Quarry Road and Middle Ridge Road. Lots may be purchased by contacting the Township Office at 988-5833.

$350 – Resident
$600 – Non-Resident

Amherst Township residents may bring their live Christmas Trees to the rear of the Amherst Township Garage Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.