Vol. X No. 2

Recycling Report

	1.2		tons of aluminum cans
	5.9		tons of bi-metal cans
	11.2		tons of glass
	3.2		tons of HDPE plastics
	2.6		tons of PETE plastics
	25.3		tons of newspapers
			There were no dumpster days in the first quarter, therefore no scrap metal.

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.

Amherst Township Trustee Meetings may be viewed on Amherst Cable Channel 12.  They will air for 7 days, running Mon thru Mon, following the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the month.  Air times are at 9 am, 4 pm, & 11 pm.  Zoning Commission meetings will be shown 8 am, 3 pm & at the conclusion of the 11pmTrustee meetings.  All airings are subject to change.

The “Amherst Quarries”

What can you do with a parcel of land over 900 acres in size, that has several bodies of water with vertical rock cliffs, some that are over 200 feet high? Land, that for over a century was not only an employment center, but also a dominant cultural mainstay in the community? Land, that for at least two generations has been known as an “unofficial” resort for various types for swimming, diving, and exploring? Land that is known for its tantalizing beauty.

For some, this has been a potential issue facing the Quarry property because it was zoned for industrial use, as well as being located in three different communities, Amherst Township, Brownhelm Township, and South Amherst Village.

The Quarry has a rich history. As a result of the Chicago fire in 1871, Amherst Quarry Sandstone was highly desired because of its fire-resistant nature. Many communities in Lorain County prospered financially and culturally as a result of the mining operation. Local and migrant workers influenced the “Blue-Collar” craftsmen-like core that is Lorain County.

During the past 10 months, residents, elected officials and appointed officials from all three communities have been working to prepare zoning texts that would be appropriate for the quarry area to allow for an adoptive “re-use” of this property.

Trans European Securities International, LLC (TES) has a new vision for this site. They see a “scarred” but beautiful landscape begging to be the home of a new championship golf course, hotels, commercial space, office space that would include worldwide corporate headquarters, single-family housing, and

Beauty
is in the eye of the beholder

There is a story often told of two stonecutters that could have taken place at the Amherst Quarries. These two stonecutters were asked by a young person, “What are you doing?” One man said, “Cutting stone into blocks”, while the other man proclaimed with a very broad smile and much pride, “Why, I am a critical part of a team of professionals building a cathedral somewhere.” Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

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FEATURED EMPLOYEE

Elaine Krieg is our featured employee. She has been on the Zoning Commission for eight years, and is currently the Chairman of the Zoning Commission. As the chairman, Elaine is responsible for running the meetings, organizing the agenda, preparing the “Public Hearing” notices, delivering “Public Hearing” information to the other commission members, the Lorain Journal, and the Lorain County Community Development Department. She also makes phone contact with commission members about special meetings as well as monthly meeting. As a Zoning Commission member, she makes decisions on rezoning, handles special requests from individuals on rezoning, and reviews “Site Plan Reviews”, signs, and text changes to the Zoning Resolution. Zoning Commission members also study and review the Amherst Township Zoning Resolution. Currently the Zoning Commission is also looking at the goals and vision of the overall “Comprehensive Use Plan” for the Township.

Elaine enjoys meeting new people in the township as well as working with the other commission members and the township trustees. The difficult part of her job is when people are unhappy with the decisions made by the commission. Elaine has also served as secretary of the Zoning Commission, and for one year she held both the chairman and secretary positions at the same time.

Elaine has lived in Amherst Township for 18 years. She is married to her husband, John, who is a Registered Nurse. They have two children, Allison and Matthew. Elaine has been teaching for 28 years and is currently with the Vermillion Local Schools.

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DITCH CLEANING & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

The “Lorain Soil & Water Conservation District” presented the following points that describe the “Lorain County Ditch Cleaning Program”:

1. Initial cleaning is funded 100% with county funds from the County Commissioners.
   
   
2. Landowners in watershed must agree to put the ditch on the permanent county maintenance program.
   
   
3. Maintenance assessment fees are based on acreage owned within the watershed.
   
   
4. The total annual assessment for a watershed’s maintenance shall not exceed 5% of the initial project cost.
   
   
5. Landowners will be assessed a maximum of $3 per acre per year for parcels over 10 acres.
   
   
6. Residential properties 10 acres or less will be assessed a maximum annual fee of $30.
   
   
7. The collection of annual fees will be discontinued when the maintenance fund for a particular ditch equals or exceeds 20% of the initial project cost.

NOTICE!

Effective May 1, 2005, Amherst Township resolution 4/3/05 requires that any property owner wishing to enclose a roadside ditch or to install a driveway approach culvert, must obtain a permit. This only applies to township roads. The permit fee is $50 and is payable by check only, made out to “Amherst Township”. If the application is denied, the permit fee will be returned to the applicant. This resolution is authorized by the Ohio Revised Code, Sections 5571.02 and 5571.16.

To ensure proper road drainage, township employees, or contractors authorized by the township, shall perform the work specified in the permit application. In addition, the township will specify materials and methods of excavation, refilling, and resurfacing to be followed.

The Amherst Township Road Superintendent will make an estimate of all installation costs. The permit applicant will pay all costs to install any culvert or tile.

Application forms may be picked up at the township hall, or may be downloaded off the townships website at: www.amhersttownship.us.

F.A.C.E.

“Funding Amherst Community Enhancement” has now held three organizational meetings. The application for the Internal Revenue Service tax deferred status as a 501c3 non-profit organization has been completed. When approval for the application has been received, FACE will begin applying for funding for projects in the Amherst, Amherst Township, and South Amherst area.

FACE will have seven directors on its board. Members must live, work, or own property in Amherst Township. Current members are:

Howard Akin (president)
John Eibon, CPA (treasurer)
Nancy Harper
Cindy Orseno
Richard Rice
Carol Schmitkons (statutory agent)
Terri Watson (secretary)

Initial projects under consideration are park improvements. These projects include rest rooms with sanitary sewers, water, and electric as well as possibly adding a concession stand. Also, the Amherst High School football team is offering assistance to seniors as a community service project. The Amherst Township Senior Service office has identified seven seniors, so far, wishing to link up with the football team to get spring yard work, etc. done. More seniors will be contacted as time permits.

The next FACE meeting will be in June. At that time, a logo for the organization will be selected from entries submitted by students. We encourage you to suggest projects for consideration. Also, we welcome any ideas you might have on obtaining funding. Either may be submitted to Howard Akin via hakin@centurytel.net or by mailing to the township hall.

Recycling Incentive Contest

Again in 2005, there will be an incentive program to encourage recycling. 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. Winners will be drawn during one of the regularly scheduled Trustee meetings.

Items that may be recycled in the blue bags are:

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.

For the April Recycling Contest:

Winners of a $25 gift certificate were:

Patricia Camarillo, Richard Metzler, Brian Hodkey, George Poore, Robert Barckert, Ronald Newman, Daniel Fly, and Jack Trewella.

Winners of a $50 gift certificate were:

Barbara Shauck, Jacki Rich, Eileen Herrmann, Dennis Hodkey, Dave Fly, Jeff Benson, Janice Gargasz, Matthew Cawrse, Bill Farlow, Charles Barckert, Phillip Balc, Deborah Mann, Helen Podlich, David Horn, Blake Schermer, and Sandra Jewell.

RAFFLE ENTRY FORM

For “Recycling Incentive Contest”
Dumpster Days: April 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2005
(Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – Time: 7:00am to 3:30pm)

Permits Required

Residents are reminded that permits are needed for pools, decks, porches, patios, gazebos, fences, ponds, signs, garages, new construction, building additions, accessory buildings, and driveways.  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.

Contact Sheriff’s Dept.

Curfew

NOTE: New Earlier Meeting Times:

Trustee Meetings now at 7:00 p.m. – Zoning Commission Meetings now at 6:30 p.m.