At the monthly meeting of the Otto Township supervisors, Chairman Eric Barton proposed using Covid grant money to improve and extend the walking/cycling trail that adjoins the Otto Recreation Park. With half of the $148,000 allocated this year, the supervisors unanimously agreed to proceed with this project. Land-owning neighbor Sharon Schwab will work with the supervisors during the construction of the trail.
The supervisors are getting the Armstrong building assessed. This currently houses the township offices and the Duke Center Post Office. They are continuing to pursue the possible purchase of the building.
The road crew has completed Rixford’s Depot Street bridge and its approval was given by both the state inspectors and the affected residents. The next bridges on the job docket are Duke Center’s Brooklyn Street span and the one on Clark Street in Rixford. Paving and curbing is being done on Highland Street in Duke to divert the runoff away from Main Street.
In a personnel move, Jeremy Delong was dismissed and replaced by Frank Barton, brother of Supervisor Chairman Eric Barton. He was selected from four applicants due to his thirty years of experience in the maintenance field.
The ordinance that will allow ATV’s, side-by-side, dirt bikes, and all other motorized recreational vehicles to travel on all township-maintained roads is signed and will go into effect once signage is posted.
Marilyn Kahle and Donna Marshall reported that the blight committee is focusing on the following Duke Center properties: the Jesse Miller residence on Oil Valley Rd., the Stoddard mobile home on Main St., and the former Superette, now owned by Carl Schellhammer. Any resident with a complaint or suggestion for the blight committee should contact Kahle, Marshall, or Richard Rivers, blight committee members, any of the three supervisors, or Jeannie Drummond, township secretary.
And, on a bittersweet note, the supervisors and police department reported zero problems during the recent — and final — Old Home Days’ festivities at the Otto Park two weekends ago.
