For the fourth quarter of 2007, Amherst Township recycled the following quantities through the 'Blue Bag" program (bold represents yearly total):
(3.7)
1.1
tons of aluminum cans
(15.7)
5.3
tons of bi-metal cans
(34.9)
10.1
tons of glass
(10.0)
2.9
tons of HDPE plastics
(8.0)
2.3
tons of PETE plastics
(78.6)
22.8
tons of newspapers
(16.3)
5.0
tons of scrap metal through the dumpster program
(102.0)
25.0
tons of Yard Waste/Compost
For questions concerning the “Blue Bag” program, contact Allied Waste Services at 458-5191 or David Urig at 988-8256.
Dumpster Days
Amherst Township has set the following dates for “Dumpster Days” in 2008:
April 10, 11, 12
July 10, 11, 12
October 2, 3, 4
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!!
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 Allied pick-up. Newspapers should be “blue bagged” separately.
Compost & Wood Chips Available
Free compost and wood chips are 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 Hall & Garage Fax......................................988-5877 Fiscal Officer ........................988-5894 Email: amhersttwpfo@oh.rr.com Road Superintendent (garage)..988-5833 Email: amhersttwproads@oh.rr.com Office (Zoning Inspector).........988-5866 Office Hours for Zoning Insp: Mon., Wed. & Sat. – 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Voice Mail is checked daily Email: amhersttwpzoning@oh.rr.com Don Gargas, Zoning Inspector
Trustees (please note changes of responsibilities) Dennis Abraham...................986-4555 (Ambulance, Cemetery, Park, Water, Roads, Ditches, Buildings, Land, Enterprise Zones, County Health Rep.) Neil Lynch.............................988-7681 (Zoning, Sewer, Fire, Equipment, Personnel, LORCO, Senior Services, NIMS Primary Contact) David C. Urig.........................988-8256 (Lighting, Solid Waste, Phase II Storm Water/Environmental Strategy, Alternate LORCO & County Health Rep.)
Fiscal Officer Howard Akin.............................233-7624
Road Superintendent John Szefcyk.............................988-7045
Amherst Twp Senior Services Office Carol Schmitkons......................988-5822
Email: amhersttwpseniors@oh.rr.com
Office Hours – Mon thru Fri – 8am to 12 Noon
Fire Prevention Officer Wayne Eppley...........................324-3921
LifeCare Ambulance, Inc. Maude or Herb DeLa Porte........323-6111
Sheriff's Department................329-3710
Ohio Edison Automated Outage Reporting Line 1-888-544-4877
TRUSTEE MEETINGS:
2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m.
Amherst Township Trustee Meetings may be viewed on Amherst Cable Channel 12. They will air for 7 days, running Mon thru Mon, following the 2nd and 4th 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 11pm Trustee meetings. All airings are subject to change.
Lorain County Solid Waste Events
Pride Day
Amherst Township will again be participating in Lorain County’s “Pride Day”, a one-day litter clean up event that will be held on Saturday, May 17th. However, “Pride Day” projects have not yet been established. Please call the township if you would like to participate or make a donation for this event.
“Scrap Tire Collection Day” will also be held on May 17th. Trailers will be at 9 different locations around the county form 9 AM to 3 PM. Please visit the LSCWMD website for details.
Electronics Collection Days
There will be 4 collection dates in 2008. Acceptable items are personal computers and related items, cell phones, small office equipment, and household televisions and audio equipment.
Day I. Saturday, April 5 from 9 AM to 3 PM
P.C. Campana Industrial Park, Rt. 58, Lorain
Day II. Saturday, June 14 from 9 AM to 3 PM
Wellington Township Garage, 105 Maple St
Day III. Saturday, July 26 from 9 AM to 3 PM
Windstream Service Center, 560 Ternes Ave, Elyria
Day IV. Saturday, October 11 from 9 AM to 3 PM
Location to be announced
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days
There will be 2 collection dates in 2008. Acceptable items are paint, chemicals, oil, batteries, fluorescent lamps, and a wide variety of other hazardous items. Please visit the LSCWMD website for details.
Day I. Saturday, April 19 from 9 AM to 3 PM
Lorain County Community College, 1005 N. Abbe Road, Elyria
Lorain County Joint Vocational School, 15181 Rt. 58, Oberlin
Day II. Saturday, September 13 from 9 AM to 3 PM
Location to be announced
Solid Waste also has year-round recycling collection programs that include:
Collection of Mercury & Mercury-Containing Implements
Scrap Tire Drop-Off (5 sites open daily)
Fluorescent Bulb & Ballast Recycling
Large Appliance Pick-Up & Recycling
Household Battery Collection & Recycling
Paper Collection & Recycling
Printer Cartridge Collection & Recycling
For more information, please contact the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District at 1-800-449-5463. To see the complete schedule of all collection events along with more detailed information, visit their website at:
According to our Community Policing Officer, Deputy Joe Greiner, 20 more of these adapters are now available upon request. Once emergency services have been called (Police, Fire, and Ambulance), with the use of the “Crime Watch Security Flasher 911 System” citizens of Lorain County can immediately have their residences identified by the flashing light. Officers will instruct the recipients of the “Crime Watch Security Flasher 911 System” that its use should be for emergency situations only, and are not intended for routine delivery style occasions. Please advise your children as well. This device should be treated the same as calling “911”. If a Deputy observes a house with this device activated, a check on the well being of the occupants will be done, even if there is not call for emergency service listed with the Police, Fire, or EMS.
These adapters install into a standard light socket and operate off the same switch as the standard porch light. They will be provided free of charge to qualified candidates of Lorain County, courtesy of the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office. For complete details see the "Spring 2006" newsletter on the township’s website at www.amhersttownship.us.
If anyone is interested in obtaining a “Crime Watch Security Flasher 911 System”, you can contact Deputy Greiner at 440-329-3749. Please state your name, address, the city or township that you live in, and a return number where you can be reached. This number is to the “Community Policing Officer” Office and is not monitored 24 hours a day.
Featured Employee
Henry Harsar is our featured employee. “Hank” has worked for the Township for about 3 years as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Alternates may be called to serve on the board at any given meeting and must be as prepared as any other board member. As a member of the Zoning Commission, Hank needs to study and be familiar with the Amherst Township Zoning Resolution. The Zoning Commission makes decisions on rezoning, handles special requests from individuals on land use, and reviews “Site Plan Reviews”, signs, and text changes to the Zoning Resolution. They are also looking at the goals and vision of the overall “Comprehensive Use Plan” for the future of the Township. As a Zoning Commission member, Hank enjoys meeting people, learning about the zoning code as well as zoning issues, and helping with the growth in the township. The least appealing aspect of his job is attending meetings on cold winter nights.
Hank is retired (semi) after working 35 years in the Lorain City School district as a teacher and principal. He is currently working as an educational consultant.
Hank has lived in the township for the past 29 years. He is happily married for 31 years to his wife Nancy, who is also retired from the Lorain City Schools after she worked for 32 years as an elementary teacher. They have three grown children (Megan, Bryan, and Sean) and three grandchildren.
Hank was born and raised in Lorain where he attended Lorain city Schools. He graduated from Bowling Green State University.
For fun, Hank attends Zoning Commission meetings. He and Nancy also like to travel, golf, and take classes at Lorain County Community College. Growing flowers, roses, and yard work also provide him with enjoyment and a few sore muscles as well!
We would like to thank Hank for being a valuable part of our township and for taking the time in his busy schedule to serve on the Zoning Commission!
Lots Available
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.
$391 – Resident
$673 – Non-Resident
Road and Storm Drainage Improvements
Approximately $145,000 was expended in 2007 to improve various Amherst Township Roads and Storm Sewers. The largest project was the Broadway, Taylor and Tenney Road reconstruction and storm tile replacement. Additional storm system cleaning and tile replacement occurred on Tina Lane, Kay Drive, Hornyak Court, Oaknoll, Rosedale and Bechtel Road, and joint sealing was completed on Dewey and Rice Roads.
A more ambitious Road and Storm Drainage program is planned for 2008, at an estimated cost of $430,000. The major project in 2008 will be concrete slab replacement for various roads in the Hidden Valley Subdivision, at an estimated cost of $295,000. Amherst Township has applied for a combination of grants and loans for the Hidden Valley area project, but is currently on the “un-funded” list, meaning this project is dependent upon available funding sources.
Additional 2008 projects include “Chip & Seal” of Tina Lane, Hornyak Court, Fowl Road and Bechtel Road. Park Avenue will be milled and repaved. Stang Road, Oberlin Road, Balsam Drive and various Hidden Valley Subdivision streets will undergo crack sealing. Roadside ditches and tile along Oberlin, Bechtel and Dewey Roads will be cleaned, along with general maintenance and cleaning of the various catch basins and storm sewers. Street Sweeping will be conducted within the higher density residential sub-divisions in the early spring.
Every effort will be made to maintain through traffic during these road and drainage improvement projects, but some detours may be necessary. Please use caution when driving through or near these various projects.
Permits Required
As Springtime arrives, residents are reminded that permits are needed for the items listed below. When a permit is obtained 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. Building inspections through the Lorain County Building Department may also be required. 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.
Pools
Decks
Porches
Patios
Gazebos
Fences
Garages
Ponds
Driveways
Signs
New Construction
Building Additions
Accessory Buildings
“Building inspections” through the Lorain County Building Department may also be required. These building “inspections” are in addition to the building “permits” that are required from the Township. The Amherst Township Zoning Inspector can assist you for both of these requirements. A building “permit” from the township is required before applying for the building “inspection” from the county. Permits for both the township and the county may be viewed on the township’s website under “zoning”.
The Bischoff Barn on Oberlin Road across from the Amherst Township Hall was a familiar fixture in Amherst Township and a symbol of our agricultural history. Sadly, the barn was removed this winter due to safety concerns. The trustees contacted various individuals that deal in barn restoration and removal, but were unable to locate anyone with a real interest in preserving the barn. Many thanks to Thom Scheidler for providing this picture. Thom’s father, Jerry Scheidler, has created a slide show entitled “Demolition of a Big Red Barn” that has been placed on the township’s website.
Click center control to begin show. Click right speaker button to turn off sound.
Recycling Incentive Contest
Back again in 2008, 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.
Part of 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:
“1” and “2” plastics (HDPE and PETE)
Bi-metal cans (canned food cans)
Aluminum cans
Glass beverage bottles
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.
RAFFLE ENTRY FORM
For "Recycling Incentive Contest"
Dumpster Days: April 10th, 11th, and 12th
(Thursday, Friday, and Saturday - Time: 7:00 am to 3:30 pm
Residents are reminded that as of March 1, 2003 animals are not permitted in the Amherst Township Park. Whoever violates this resolution is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be prosecuted (ORC Section 511.32).
Also as a reminder, vandalism at the Amherst Township Park is prosecutable. Violators will be charged with Criminal Vandalism according to ORC 2909.05. This is a felony offense and carries a fine of $2500. This will be strictly enforced. The township park is being patrolled by the Sheriff’s Department.
Park Pavilion
Due to the increased usage of the park pavilion, and to avoid scheduling conflict, please contact Amherst Township Road Superintendent, John Szefcyk, to make reservations if you wish to use the pavilion. He can be reached during the week at 988-5833.
Lifecare
Amherst Township, as a member of the Sandstone Joint Ambulance District, has chosen “LifeCare” to be their ambulance provider. President Maude DeLa Porte and Vice-President Herb DeLa Porte own and operate LifeCare. They can be reached at 323-6111. To learn more about their services, visit their website at www.lifecareambulance.com. For more information about LifeCare as well as links to other related websites visit www.geocities.com/lifecaredispatch.
Contact Sheriff’s Dept.
If residents know of, or see, any suspicious activity in the township or at the Amherst Township Park, please contact the Sheriff’s Dept. at 329-3710. To contact the sheriff’s dispatch from your cell phone without being charged, call 323-1212. These are not a “911” emergency lines.
Curfew
Please be aware that a curfew exists in Amherst Township for minors age 16 and under between the hours of Midnight and 5 a.m. This curfew will be enforced by the Lorain County Sheriff’s Dept.
NOTE: Meeting Times:
Trustee Meetings at 7:00 p.m. – Zoning Commission Meetings now at 6:30 p.m.
