MILLBURY – Lake Township is looking to the state to plug a hole in the road department budget that was
decimated by this winter’s wicked weather.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the trustees approved a resolution asking the state to release money from its
"rainy day fund" to help repair township infrastructure that "sustained substantial
damage" this winter due to extreme weather conditions.
The resolution said the Ohio Budget Stabilization Fund, also known as the rainy-day fund, has a balance
of $1.47 billion.
"We’re not really asking for a handout. We’re just asking for our money back," said Trustee
Richard Welling, who wrote the resolution.
The resolution cites the township’s Local Government Fund that has been cut by 30 percent. The reduction
– which hit local governments all over Ohio – was implemented during the economic downturn a couple
years ago.
"This money is Ohio residents’ money and it should be returned to local jurisdictions," Welling
said.
The resolution will be sent to Gov. John Kasich, and Ohio Sen. Randy Gardner and Rep. Tim Brown, both
R-Bowling Green.
Trustee Chairwoman Melanie Bowen praised Welling for coming up with the resolution.
"It doesn’t hurt to ask," she said.
"Kudos to Richard," added Fiscal Officer Vicki Schwamberger.
Bowen said the state should release money to help local governments.
"That’s kind of sad that they have that much money on our backs," she said.
Police Chief Mark Hummer, who is also the township administrator, said area municipalities, including
ones represented by the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, have repeatedly asked for the
Local Government Fund money to be restored. He added that it is "ridiculous" for the state to
have that big of a rainy-day fund.
"I hope that other local governments follow your lead," Hummer told the trustees.
Lake Township spent $40,000 on road department overtime in January to pay for crews to plow and salt
roads during one of the coldest and snowiest winters ever; the usual monthly budget is $20,000. Road
Supervisor Dan McLargin reported on Tuesday that the department logged another 176 hours of overtime in
February.
Also related to the bad winter weather, Welling said the road department will not be replacing sod or
clearing stone from residences or right of ways that were damaged or displaced by snowplows.
"We’d appreciate it if folks were understanding this year," said Welling, who added that it
would take too much employee time.
In other bad weather business, Yvette Kynard of Clover Lane in Moline, said her mailbox was damaged, and
then knocked down, during two snow storms. She would like it replaced.
Welling said if the plow blade physically hits the mailbox, the township will fix it. If the snow hits
the box, they do not replace it.
Trustee Chairwoman Melanie Bowen said they would review Kynard’s claim.