The concerned citizens who attended the monthly meeting of the Otto Township Supervisors witnessed a contentious and somewhat heated “discussion” over the matter of employees’ duties, qualifications and ethics.

Chairman Eric Barton and fellow supervisors C.J. Kaluza and Mike Ogilvie, along with employee Frank Barton, all voiced their opinions, expressed their views, and exchanged some verbal jabs. (A few straight rights and uppercuts were thrown, but few landed.) They eventually agreed that employees should work together, supporting each other and doing their own jobs to the best of their abilities. The three supervisors will field any complaints and take the necessary steps to resolve them.

Don Nies presented quotes for the purchase of badges and patches for the soon-to-be reincarnated Otto Township Police Department. The supervisors agreed to order the necessary insignias. Township solicitor Erik Ross is progressing on the legalities of the recent dissolution of the Otto-Eldred Joint Police Force and the necessary steps required to enable Otto Township to once again have its own police department.

A request for more speed limit signs on Kansas Branch Road was received. All agreed to install four more, along with signage alerting drivers of the driveway to the newly opened Little Mountain Winery. “Dead End” or “No Outlet” signs were suggested for both Idlewild Road in Duke Center and Baker’s Trestle Road in Rixford.

Supervisor Kaluza received quotes for rubber mulch for the playground area in the park and it was agreed to purchase five pallets at a cost of approximately $2,800. Three pallets of mulch will be sufficient to cover the playgrounds, with two to be stored for future replenishing.

Cindy Murphy, representing the Otto Eldred Hometown Days (the successor to the popular Old Home Days) requested, and was granted, the township employees’ services for three hours on July 22 in helping ready the park for the weekend’s festivities.

The parking lot in the front of the newly purchased township building (695 Main St., Duke Center) has been paved and striped. Reconfigurations and renovations of the interior of the building will begin in the near future, including enlarging the meeting room and equipping a police department office.

The Clark Street Bridge in Rixford was re-inspected by the state and found to be in better condition than originally reported. The supervisors agreed that it will need repaired or replaced in the near future, but were relieved to hear it does not need immediate attention.

Kaluza agreed to attend a meeting on July 25 at the Otto-Eldred High School to discuss the township’s agreement with the schools on park responsibilities, police presence at the two schools and other coordinated duties of the two entities which will benefit both the students and the township residents.