Vol. IX No. 3

Recycling Report

1.3		tons of aluminum cans
6.4		tons of bi-metal cans
12.1		tons of glass
3.6		tons of HDPE plastics
2.8		tons of PETE plastics
27.4		tons of newspapers
7.8		tons of scrap metal through the dumpster program in April

Dumpster Days

Drop-Off Hours for Yard Waste!!

Compost Available

Free compost is available from the Township. If you are interested, contact John Szefcyk, Road Superintendent, at 988-5833.

Have a problem?  Complaint forms are available at the Township Hall, inside the white bulletin board, or may be downloaded from the Township’s website.

TOWNSHIP AMBULANCE SERVICE

Since the change in ambulance service provision late last year, there is some confusion about ambulance coverage in the township.  In order to get some clarification on the services provided, we contacted both LifeCare Ambulance, Inc., our current 911 emergency ambulance service, and North Central EMS, our past provider.  We hope that this article will give you a better idea of which service will best provide you with the type of non-emergency transportation that you require.

“911” Services

Both groups are equipped and trained to handle this service.  Currently, if you call “911”, a Life Care ambulance will be dispatched to your location.

Non-emergency services

Non-emergency transport is defined as patients with “medical needs requiring transportation that cannot be provided by a private car, taxi, bus, or other form of private/public transportation”.

Medical need further means that there is a condition that requires the patient to be either wheelchair or bed bound, and that the medical need has been established & approved by the attending physician.

This is the area where the two ambulance services take a slightly different approach.

North Central is a “not-for-profit” organization, which because it is eligible for grants and other types of funding, can offer a membership program to cover certain types of transports.  If you do not have insurance coverage, their membership program may benefit you.  It is available to individuals and families for $49 per year.  Coverage includes ground ambulance services to or from a medical facility within North Central’s service area, or an Ohio hospital in Cleveland, Toledo, or Columbus.

Physician authorization may be required for non-emergency transfers.  Wheelchair trips or doctor visits are not included.  North Central still services our area for non-emergency transports.  If you have any questions concerning the membership program or you would like more information, please contact Don Ballah at 1-800-589-2515.

LifeCare provides non-emergency ambulance transportation as well as ambulette (wheelchair van) transport for patients who are wheelchair bound.  However, LifeCare Ambulance, Inc. does not offer a subscription plan based on the recommendations of the Attorney General’s Office.

To offset the benefit of a subscription plan, in 1999 LifeCare became a member of the largest ambulance network in Ohio.  This allows them to have contracts with many of the major insurance companies, which covers the majority of the people in our community, making a subscription plan redundant.  Coverage of ambulance services is contingent on your insurance plan.

LifeCare will make every attempt to bill the patient’s primary and secondary insurance before billing the patient for co-pays and deductibles, as indicated in their health insurance plan. Insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid, may reject or deny claims based on their interpretation of coverage under the patient’s plan, or if they determine that the type of transportation was not “medically necessary”.  Ambulette (wheelchair van) transports are not covered by Medicare, nor are they known to be covered by any subscription plan.

LifeCare’s billing office is always willing to work with patients to set up a payment plan.

If you have any questions or you would like more information on their services, please contact Maude or Herb DeLa Porte at 323-6111.

Zoning Commission Meetings
now to be Taped and Aired

Starting in September, Amherst Township Zoning Commission Meetings will be taped and shown on Amherst Cable Channel 12, at the conclusion of the Trustee meetings.  Zoning Commission Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the 1^st Tuesday of the month at the Township Hall on Oberlin Road.  These meetings are open to the public

Street Lights Out

If you notice a street light out near your home, residents are encouraged to contact Ohio Edison by calling their “Automated Outage Reporting” phone number at:

1-888-544-4877

---

FEATURED EMPLOYEE

Marvin (Marv) Traster, Road Employee for Amherst Township, is our featured employee.  He has worked for the Township for 8 years.  Marv’s job duties include anything related to taking care of the roads, such as snow plowing, drain tiles, road berms, and concrete work.  He also does mowing, tree trimming, and weed whipping.  Marv enjoys his job because he likes working outside.

Marvin’s wife Carol works for Lorain County Human Service.  They have 2 grown boys and 3 grandchildren.  Marvin was raised in Oberlin and graduated from Keystone High School in LaGrange.  He says he had a fun childhood growing up in the 60’s and was also into Hot Rods.

Marvin’s favorite pastime is fishing.  He owns a Perch and a Walleye boat.  His best places to fish are Lake Erie and Buffalo, New York.  Marvin’s big “fish story” is the day he caught a 30 lb. King Salmon in Buffalo, New York.

Many thanks to Marvin for maintaining our roads and our township.

---

TRICK-OR-TREAT

“Trick-or-Treat” in Amherst Township will be held on Sunday, October 31^st, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. this year.  Residents that wish to pass out candy should turn on their outside lights.

Also on Sunday, October 31^st, the City of Amherst Fire Department will be sponsoring a “Costume Contest” with registration starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Sans Springs Building, located at 480 Park Ave. in Amherst.  Judging for the contest will start promptly at 4:00 p.m.

The annual “Halloween Parade” will follow, from 4:30 – 5:00 p.m.  In case of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled and the “Costume Contest” will be held at the Amherst Fire Department located at 414 Church St. in Amherst.

Public Hearings for

Electric/Gas Aggregation

A public hearing will be held Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall concerning the Electric Aggregation Program and the Gas Aggregation Program.  This meeting is required in order for the township trustees to pass the last two resolutions that will adopt the Plan of Operation and Governance for each Program.  Keary McCarthy will be there representing NOPEC (Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council) and will be answering any questions that the township residents may have.  This is the final step in implementing these two programs.

---

Turnpike Update

The Amherst/Oberlin Interchange, located in Amherst Township, is scheduled to be open sometime in November.  Visit the township’s website for more photos.

Thanks to Dan Gross for providing the opportunity to take these aerial views.

The Amherst Township Wastewater Detention Basin nears completion.

Park Playground Equipment

Many thanks go to Jack Murray of the Country Day School for donating their playground equipment to Amherst Township.  The Country Day School will be relocating from the Route 58 location.

At the same time, Robbie Brown approached the township trustees looking for a community project that he could do as part of his “Leadership Service Project”.  This is a required project in order to become an Eagle Scout.  Robbie will be responsible for the site design and the transfer of the playground equipment from The Country Day School to the Amherst Township Park.

Again, we would like to thank Jack and Robbie for their donations to the township, and to wish Robbie luck in completing his project.

New Park Coordinator

Many thanks go to Tony Ellis for filling the open position of “Amherst Township Park Coordinator”.  If you would like to reserve the park pavilion, or have suggestions for improving the park, contact Tony at 988-3033.  He can also be reached by email at amherstman620@aol.com.

Tony is a township resident who lives at 212 Rustic Hill Lane in the Hidden Valley development.

Recycling Incentive Contest

The recycling incentive program will be offered again in October 2004. This incentive program is an eligibility requirement of the “Solid Waste Grant” award received by Amherst Township.

This program will consist of a raffle to be held in conjunction with the township’s “dumpster events”.  To enter the raffle, simply fill out the entry form below.  Bring the completed form along with a blue bag of recyclables or recyclable yard waste to the dumpster event.

This is your entry into the raffle.  Winners will be drawn during one of the regularly scheduled Trustee meetings.

Items that may be recycled in the blue bags are the “1” and “2” plastics (HDPE and PETE), bi-metal

cans (canned food cans), aluminum cans, glass beverage bottles, and newspapers.  Newspapers are to be placed in a separate blue bag from the rest of the recyclables.  Also, please rinse all food and beverage containers before placing them in a blue bag.

Winners of the April 2004 Incentive Contest are:

1. Frank Lasso received a $50 gift certificate to G & G Auto Parts on Rt. 58 & Middle Ridge in Amherst Twp.
2. Phillip Bak received a $50 gift certificate to NAPA Auto Parts on Rt. 58 in Amherst Township.
3. Matt Cawrse received a $50 gift certificate to Laws Auto Service, Inc on Middle Ridge Road in Amherst Township.
4. Jackie Rich received a $50 gift certificate to Cuenin’s Auto Service on Middle Ridge Road in Amherst Twp.

RAFFLE ENTRY FORM

PHONE NUMBER:

Permits Required

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.

Please contact Don Gargas, Amherst Township Zoning Inspector for these permits.  Office hours for the Zoning Inspector are from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.  He can be reached at 988-5866.  Voice Mail is checked daily.

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

Contact Sheriff’s Dept.

Curfew