Howland trustee urges residents to contact ODOT

New signal announced for Route 46 and Howland Springs

HOWLAND -- Township Trustee Matthew Vansuch encouraged residents to voice their opinions to the Ohio Department of Transportation concerning the planned construction of a traffic light at the intersection of state Route 46 and Howland Springs Road.

Construction on the project is slated to begin in the fall of 2025, and comments from the public will be taken into consideration until Oct. 9, according to the ODOT.

"Tell them what you feel and why you feel that way," Vansuch said. "Let ODOT know -- this is your chance to do it, and they really do read their comments."

Trustee James LaPolla announced the dates for the township limb and branch pickup.

On all streets and areas east of Mosquito Creek, debris must be curbside by Oct. 28.

On all streets off North Road, including North Road, all debris must be curbside by Nov. 11.

The following restrictions will be in place during pickup according to the township announcement:

•   One pass will be made on each street.

•   Cut ends of branches should be facing the street.

•   Only trimmed or pruned and root-free branches will be accepted.

•   Branches over 6 inches in diameter will not be accepted.

•   Piles of branches should be no larger than 4 feet high by eight feet long. Neighbors should not combine their debris piles so that they exceed the limits.

•   No firewood, large logs or complete trees will be picked up.

In other business, trustees:

•   Set township trick or treat 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

•   Approved payment to Local Fiscal Recovery Fund of $20,000 for website and mobile app improvements and $4,080 for a one-year subscription with GoGov mobile software. The expenditures are to update the Howland website, which has not been updated for about 10 years, according to township Administrator James Pantalone.

•   Accepted $3,647 training and equipment grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety. This is an annual grant that will allow community notifications about nonemergency issues such as zoning, construction, public meetings, etc. according to fire Chief Raymond Pace.

•  Hired Jamal Thomas as a part-time instructor for the Howland Training Center effective Monday at $20 hourly during the probationary period and $25 hourly afterward with no benefits. Thomas is to be scheduled as needed.

•   Accepted $101,051 from the 2023 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant to replace worn-out fire hoses and nozzles.

•   Approved an agreement between Howland Township and M&M Demolition to remove wreckage from parcels on Valacamp Avenue SE for $8,680.

•   Approved a joint work session with the Howland Local School District Board of Education and Howland Township Park Commissioners for 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Howland High School media center regarding Orwig Park updates and a community tree lighting.

•   Approved the sale of two decommissioned police vehicles -- a 2010 Chevrolet Impala and a 2016 Chevrolet Impala -- on the govdeals.com website.

•   Resolved to apply for grants of $20,000 from the Cybersecurity and Software and Services Grant and $9,500 from the .gov Domain Migration Grant. Both are part of the CyberOhio Local Government Grant Program.