Accepts community donations and bids for court surfacing

In old business on Monday evening, the Porter Township Trustees moved to accept a $1000 donation from SOMC for the community pickleball court project. The trustees applied for an ODNR grant to cover some of the costs associated with the project, and other improvements to the park, in May of last year, and signed the final ODNR agreement in December. The agreement gave them a full year to complete the project.

The Trustees also received bids from two different contractors, Heiberger Paving and Leslies Coatings, on surfacing options for the pickleball courts. Heiberger returned bids on three different options for the court, ranging from $34,000 to $24,000. Leslie Coatings only returned a bid on the lowest of the three options, with their bid coming in at $10,000. The trustees moved to accept both proposals and to review them and revisit at a future meeting.

The trustees also approved a request to ask the assistant prosecuting attorney to help find the lienholders or property owners at 826 Center St., for consideration to potentially remove buildings on that property.

Trustee Jeff Rase also noted that he had spoken again to Jim Love, with the Gallipolis Train Station Museum. The museum would like to take possession of an N&W caboose that belongs to the township, and restore and display it at their facility. Rase explained that the trustees had asked their counsel to prepare documentation relating to terms of the transfer, and that the museum had reviewed and approved those terms. He said he would like to add the group to the April 3 agenda and sign the agreement transferring ownership at that time.

In road and bridge news, the township moved to approve an application for a $500 Moore Grant to cover the costs of safety equipment. The grant would cover most of the cost of new safety t-shirts, safety cones, and safety vests for the township road crews, with the additional $19 in costs coming from the road and bridge fund.

In new business the township accepted proposals to purchase a new copier and awarded the contract to Superior Office at $3,890 and $360 for annual maintenance fees.

The township also moved to accept dumpster proposals for the spring cleanup and awarded the contract to Republic, to approve modification to their personnel driving policy, simplifying the form, and approved a proposal from Tommy Valance to redesign the township website at a cost of $400.

They also moved to approve a purchase order for $4,253.25 to Northern Lights Display LLC for new Christmas decorations. The order will include 12 new pole decorations and one new swag.