VERMILION TWP. — Vermilion Township trustees reviewed infrastructure projects, departmental updates, and the future of local building oversight during their regular business meeting held November 5 at Township Hall. The meeting was called to order by Chair Kenn Baughman, with Trustee Don Rowe Sr. and Fiscal Officer Stephanie Johnson present. Trustee Kurt Johnson was absent.
Fire Department Report
Fire Chief Frank Triana reported 54 EMS runs, five motor-vehicle crashes, three open burns, one residential fire alarm, and two carbon-monoxide alarms in October, bringing the department’s total to 563 calls for the year. Triana noted that several vehicles underwent brake-system and data-link module repairs during the month.
He requested authorization to purchase 10 Unication G1 pagers with three-year warranties for $5,139.20 through Railcom Communications LLC, funded by department allocations and a private foundation donation. The request was approved under Resolution 2025-22.
Road Department Report
Road Superintendent Steve Young said the overlay on Prison Road has been completed and that the township’s wood chipper is out for repair. He reported nine streetlights currently out — one already fixed — with the remaining outages sent to Ohio Edison for service.
Winter preparations are under way, including vehicle maintenance and final mowing for the season. Young reminded residents to secure mailboxes and keep trash cans off the road to prevent interference with snowplows. Trustees also discussed the need for new striping on several roads and a cleanup of old political and business signs remaining in the right-of-way.
Administrator and Zoning Report
Township Administrator and Zoning Inspector Joe Baxter reported more than $13,000 in damage to Cemetery Road and Sassafras Road caused by Brightspeed contractors who bored without permits. He said all Brightspeed and affiliate permits have been rescinded until repairs and payments are made.
Baxter recommended, and trustees unanimously approved, a 90-day moratorium on telecommunication boring in township rights-of-way while the situation is resolved. He said attempts to contact the company through state and county channels have not been successful.
Baxter also reported that the township has launched a new community Facebook page to share updates, while reminding residents that it cannot function as an official government platform under state law. He announced plans to implement the GoGov.com mass-communication system, which would allow residents to receive local notices and alerts via phone, text, or email for about $3,900 per year. Local businesses have offered to donate toward the communication credits needed for the service.
On the zoning side, Baxter said 10 permits were issued in October. He reported that final payment to Hart Asphalt was being withheld until drainage issues on North Risden Road were corrected.
Fiscal Report
Fiscal Officer Stephanie Johnson announced that Vermilion Township received a clean state audit under the agreed-upon procedures process, following a full audit in 2023. Trustees commended her fiscal management and noted that the township remains in strong financial standing entering the new year.
Resolutions
Three resolutions were approved during the meeting:
• Resolution 2025-22 — Authorized the purchase of pagers for the Fire Department.
• Resolution 2025-23 — Established a winter-parking ban on township roads from November 1 through April 30, allowing towing of vehicles that impede snowplowing operations.
• Resolution 2025-24 — Updated the road-opening policy to require a $100 permit, a $50,000 bond, and state-law penalties for violations.
Public Comments
Residents Martha Nickel and Dan and Diana Ladrach raised property-maintenance concerns, citing neglected yards and trailers on Barnes Road that they said were affecting neighborhood property values. They urged trustees to strengthen enforcement and reinstate the township’s building-inspection
Special Presentation: Pavement Condition Analysis
Tim Hurst of National Pavement Analysis delivered a presentation assessing all township roads. He reported an average road rating of 81.5, considered “good,” with only one segment, Haber Road, classified as “poor.”
Hurst recommended ending the township’s chip-seal program due to surface bleeding issues and transitioning to microsurfacing and asphalt-rejuvenation treatments. He estimated that approximately $600,000 in investment would restore all township roads to optimal condition. Trustees discussed using the findings to prioritize future maintenance and budget planning.
New Business: Re-establishing the Building Department
Under new business, Trustee Don Rowe Sr. proposed reinstating the Vermilion Township Building Department, which was transferred to the City of Vermilion years ago after the resignation of former inspector Bob Baker.
Rowe said the move was intended to be temporary but communication with the city’s building department had since deteriorated. He expressed frustration that requests for documentation: including how much the city had collected in permit fees had gone unanswered. Baxter confirmed that the city had collected more than $110,000 in building-permit fees this year, plus roughly $15,000 in contractor registration, totaling about $125,000 in revenue that could otherwise stay within the township.
Rowe said restoring the department would allow better oversight, improve responsiveness, and keep local funds in Vermilion Township. Baxter told trustees he has already applied to the Ohio Department of Commerce to serve as interim building inspector, based on his contractor experience, and had identified a certified Chief Building Official willing to work with the township if reinstated.
Chair Kenn Baughman supported exploring the option but recommended consultation with the incoming city administration under Mayor-elect Owens before making a final decision.
Rowe agreed to table his motion until early 2026, giving time to gather financial data and certification updates before the trustees revisit the matter.
Correspondence and Announcements
Trustees received notice of a county stakeholder meeting on November 14 concerning Route 60 drainage issues, along with resident emails regarding OUPS utility markings on Chardonnay Circle.
The board confirmed that township administrative offices will be closed for the holidays from December 19 through January 5, with fiscal and zoning staff available by appointment.
The next regular Vermilion Township Trustees meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on November 19 at Township Hall.
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