MILLBURY – Overtime and fuel costs related to this winter’s snow removal is plowing into the Lake
Township budget.
The road department usually costs $20,000 to operate during a normal winter month, said Fiscal Officer
Vicki Schwamberger, after Tuesday’s trustees’ meeting.
This January’s cost: $40,000.
Road supervisor Dan McLargin said his crew logged 348.5 hours of overtime last month.
Schwamberger said the overtime alone will cost $12,180.
"It was a $40,000 month, for salaries and fuel," she said.
The road department is funded through four different areas: a levy, gas tax, permissive tax and license
fees.
Schwamberger said she monitors the money everyday and is anxious for the first round of real estate taxes
to arrive late this month.
The road department is also down one truck; a new one, which cost $129,000, is on order. Because of the
shortfall, some of the subdivisions aren’t getting plowed until several hours after a snowfall.
Trustee Chairwoman Melanie Bowen praised the road crew for doing outstanding work during the worst winter
since 1978.
"You guys have done a stellar job," she said.
At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, the trustees heard a resident complain about loaders pushing snow on
Bradner Road into the ditch, which will likely set up flooding.
Trustee Richard Welling said snow has to be moved on roads that have a lot of drifting. He said flooding
was likely all over the area as temperatures rise.
In other inclement weather news, Fire Chief Bruce Moritz said that the department’s Argo amphibious
vehicle was used in the Maumee Bay State Park/Lake Erie Rescue of a father and his two sons.
The boys on Monday afternoon wandered four miles out on the lake, then the father got lost looking for
them, Moritz said.
The Argo has tracks that can move on the ice, he said.
Moritz also asked residents to adopt a fire hydrant by digging them out of snow. He added that
firefighters are traveling with 7,000 gallons of water on their trucks in case hydrants are frozen.
Welling suggested residents adopt catch basins, too, preparing for any flooding.
Also at the meeting, the trustees:
• Heard January department reports. Police made 12 arrests and issued 27 citations. The cemetery had 15
burials. Zoning received $475 and issued three permits. The fire department had 25 runs and EMS made
126; this is an increase of 40 runs for the month.
• Thanked the Friends of Lake Township Parks for donation a "T" swing and baby seat, a belt
seat swing set, a discover cave, a sway bench, play curbing and mulch for Moline Meadows Park. They also
paid for a bay swing replacement for Friendship Park.
• Voted to use a Wood County Park District grant of $9,981 for playground equipment at Moline Meadows
Park.
• Approved spending $1,230 for Northwood Door, Walbridge, to install a new garage door opener motor at
the road department.
• Adopted a resolution thanking cemetery sexton Gary Schulte for 30 years of service. Schulte is retiring
next month.
• Heard from Wood County Commissioner Doris Herringshaw that the board is using $300,000 in casino money
to invest in bridge repairs.