QUARTERLY
BATH TOWNSHIP
WINTER 2017
VOLUME 25 NUMBER 1
2016 in Review
Township Accomplishments
by Vito Sinopoli
B
ath Township achieved a number of noteworthy accomplishments last year and as
our community continues its forward momentum, reflecting on our challenges and successes
is key to continued progress. Through it all, our
township employees worked hard to provide
the very best in service to residents and businesses alike.
The Township Trustees, Fiscal Officer,
department heads, and I continue to work on
developing goals and objectives for the year to
come, applying strategies that will help keep our
residents safe and ensure continuity of township services. We do this with the understanding that, in the future, there are new challenges
we will face as a community. These challenges
will drive each and every one of us to work
toward resolving issues in the most effective
and efficient ways possible. Local governments
continue to feel the strain placed upon them
through decreased funding and other related
issues. However, in this community, our township officials and employees work diligently to
make decisions which serve the best interests
of the community. Now is the time to see our
plans through and maintain dedication and
commitment in order to achieve our goals, with
a number of important initiatives and projects
as the backdrop for continued progress.
Inside This Issue:
Service
Zoning
Police
Fire
Parks
Museum
Solid Waste
Yellow Creek
Upcoming Events
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4
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5
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P
hase one of the landscaping improvements was completed successfully
at the Heritage Corridors of Bath Wayside Exhibit. These improvements included installation of approximately 600’ of an aggregate bike/pedestrian trail and the planting of 19 trees donated through the Living Tree
Program. Additionally, a portion of the trail project was funded through a
Summit County Community Grant. The trail is designed as a gateway connecting the Ghent Hamlet to other portions of the township.
The visitor center is a
roadside attraction featuring a pavilion structure with
informational panels that
highlight important events
in Bath Township’s history,
its watershed, and scenic
sights. Land acquisition for
this project was funded with
grants from both the Federal
National Scenic Byway Program and The Ohio Public Works Commission
Clean Ohio fund. The federal grant, administered through the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), funded 80% of the $229,000 land
purchase price and the balance was paid through a separate grant administered through the Public Works Commission. A separate federal grant
administered through ODOT funded 80% of the cost of infrastructure
improvements, including the parking lot, pavilion, and site grading and
seeding.
The Wayside was also designed to serve several important functions.
The property’s location along the Heritage Corridor made it a logical choice
to serve as a buffer between residential and commercial properties along
Cleveland Massillon Road. Preservation of the land on which the Wayside
is located also ensures protection of the North Fork of Yellow Creek and
Bath Creek, as they converge into Yellow Creek, which extends through the
Wayside and along the west property line. Moreover, sustainable features,
such as pervious pavement and a bio-retention drainage area, have been
incorporated into the Wayside infrastructure improvements to assist with
flood mitigation in the area. Funding options for phase two of the landscaping improvements will also be considered in the upcoming months.
To donate a tree for this area or another township property, visit bathtownship.org and click on the Living Tree Program. Two hundred dollars
will purchase one tree and establish a brass placque in the Trustees’ Meeting Room in memory or in honor of someone special in your life. 
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BATH TOWNSHIP QUARTERLY
Service Department
WINTER 2017
During 2016, the Township Road Crew accomplished the following:
• Resolved over 250 resident-generated service requests, and handled 61 in-house requests;
• Installed 12 residential driveway culverts and 5 road-crossing culverts;
• Installed 470.7 tons of asphalt for spot repairs of roadways and driveway aprons;
• Corrected over 4,814 linear feet of roadside ditching;
• Performed roadside mowing, tree/brush trimming, sign repair and replacement;
• Attended to seasonal planting and decorating of township properties;
• Used a total of 1,234 tons of salt and spent approximately 1,182.5 hours controlling snow and ice on township roadways during the winter of 2015/2016;
• Drove a total of 77,998 miles in the 2016 calendar year.
The following roadway improvements were completed by contract:
• ODOT Item 448 Asphalt Paving .89 miles;
• Concrete Road Panel Replacement 985 square yards on 10 roads;
• ODOT Item 405 Motor Paving/Chip Sealing 1.02 miles of roads;
• ODOT Item 422 Chip Sealing .82 miles of roads;
• 8 failed storm water catch basins rebuilt.
The following contract work was performed in the Bath Administration Building:
• Phase 3 window replacements;
This turkey spent
• Phase 1 exterior door replacements;
much of 2016 in
• Jail lock and intercom update project
Moores Chapel
Cemetery paying
The Cemetery Sexton and the Service Department team attended to:
his last respects
• 26 Burials at Moores Chapel, 1 at Bath Center, and 3 in the Ira Road
to the deceased.
Cemetery.
• Installed 27 concrete monument foundations, and sold 47 cemetery lots.
Zoning
QUARTERLY
BATH TOWNSHIP
WINTER 2017
VOLUME 25 NUMBER 1
An official newsletter published by the Bath Township Board of
Trustees as a service to Bath Township residents under the authority
of the Ohio Revised Code, Section 9.03
Office Telephone:
330-666-4007
www.bathtownship.org
Fax:
330-666-0305
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Elaina E. Goodrich
James N. Nelson
Trustee
Trustee
Becky Corbett Sharon A. Troike
Trustee
Fiscal Officer
Vito Sinopoli, Township Administrator
Meeting Dates for Board of Trustees:
Monday, February 6, 2017 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
4:00 p.m.
Monday, March 6, 2017
7:00 p.m.
Monday, March 20, 2017
4:00 p.m.
Monday, April 3, 2017 7:00 p.m.
Monday, April 17, 2017
4:00 p.m.
I
n 2016, there were 142 zoning permits issued which
included 15 new homes within the township. The Board
of Zoning Appeals heard 22
cases in 2016 including the
approval of a conditional use
and variance for the proposed
new Cleveland Clinic/Select
Medical Rehabilitation facility
located to the west of the WellRendering of Cleveland Clinic/
ness
Center at 4125 Medina Rd.
Select Medical facility
The Appearance Review Commission reviewed 18 cases which involved 12 sign reviews and 8 site plan &
building elevations.
The Zoning Commission began the year by accepting the bylaws and
procedures for the Zoning Commission, Appearance Review Commission,
and the Board of Zoning Appeals. The document has been designed as a
point of reference on the proper procedures associated with the individual
committees and public meetings. Also, in 2016 the Commission received an
application for rezoning of parcels from R-2 Residential to R-4 Residential
located at 789, 823, and 839 N. Revere Rd. The application was recommended
for approval by the Commission and was ultimately approved by the Board of
Trustees later in the year. The approval paves the way for a 17 lot residential
subdivision off on N. Revere Rd. named the Reserve at North Revere. 
BATH TOWNSHIP QUARTERLY
Police Department
P
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olice department members responded to 11,558 calls for service in 2016. The most frequent activity was self-initiated
business visits. Officers performed foot patrols inside hotels and
retail stores on 2,862 occasions. This proactive practice established good relationships resulting in the deterrence of crime.
Burglar alarms accounted for 1,009 calls for service. The
majority of alarms were deemed to be false. The location with
the greatest number of false alarms in 2016 had 13 alarms. Bath
Township established a False Alarm Ordinance in 2005 which has
greatly reduced the number of false alarms.
Bath residents assisted police in keeping crime in check by
reporting suspicious activity. Officers responded to 344 reported
suspicious vehicles and 184 suspicious persons. Several wanted
persons were apprehended as a result of residents’ calls.
Patrol officers were glad to assist 333 citizens who locked their
keys inside their motor vehicles. Every police vehicle is equipped
with tools to assist opening a locked car.
A large amount of time was spent investigating traffic crashes.
Officers responded to 625 crashes in the township. There were
1,160 traffic stops made in 2016 with 570 citations issued. Drunk
driving accounted for 46 citations while 58 persons were found to
be driving on suspended licenses.
Most crimes reported in the township were non-violent.
There were 21 burglaries and 162 thefts reported. Violent crime
numbers were low for a community of Bath’s size. One robbery,
two rapes, and one felonious assault took place in 2016.
Lastly, Bill Alexander and Adam Chapman were hired as full
time officers. Officer Lane Watson was promoted to full time. The
department said good-bye to Detective David Ellinger and Sergeant Michael Clar, who both retired in 2016.
WINTER 2017
Fire Department
B
ath Fire Department had a very busy year in
2016. The department responded to 1481 emergency medical and fire related calls. There were 1011
emergency calls, 455 fire responses and 15 special
details. Seven hundred sixteen patients were transported to area hospitals. The top five reasons for
emergency medical request were weakness, fall injuries, altered level of consciousness, dizziness and
chest pain. The fire department was effected by the
heroin epidemic that was present in the county. During the peak of this year’s problem, the department
responded to 2-3 overdoses a day.
Five new part-time employees were hired to increase the response capabilities of the department.
During the year, the township saw the addition of
Melt Bar and Grill and numerous other modifications to existing buildings requiring over 450 inspections by personnel.
Many of the new additions for equipment were
in the form of computers and tablets to support the
electronic patient reporting system. These systems
increase accuracy and provide better detail of the
medical incident. At the end of the year, the trustees
approved the purchase of a new fire engine which
will be delivered at the end of summer 2017.
Bath Fire and Police Departments hosted a Safety Forces Open House
on August 6th. Activities
included the safety
trailer, squirt house,
fire and EMS equipment, police cruisers
and equipment, and a
University Hospital Med Flight helicopter. Approximately 150
people attended. Both departments hope to continue this
event in 2017.
Safety Town 2017
June 12 - 15
Registration begins March 7
www.bathtownship.org
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BATH TOWNSHIP QUARTERLY
Parks
WINTER 2017
B
ath Township Parks continue to be a popular destination Baseball Park, Bath Township received a generous donation
for residents and visitors of the community. Park person- of an AED which is installed at the concession stand. Adnel were busy coordinating activities that included 167 shel- ditionally, the Bath Park Board received a Bath Community
ter reservations at the Bath Baseball Park, Bath Community Fund grant that will help construct a restroom near the Regal
Park, and the Bath Nature Preserve, along with 941 scheduled Beagle.
field reservations for sporting events
In 2016, Bath Parks saw the completion of
that took place in three of the township’s
several projects, highlighted by the ribbon cutfour parks. Bath Parks estimates it had
ting ceremony in October for the completion
over 80,000 visitors for the scheduled
of the boardwalk at the Tamarack Bog/Fen in
sporting events, which included the
the Bath Nature Preserve. At the Bath ComAl O’Leary Hurling Tournament, the
munity Park, the driveway and parking lots
Cuyahoga Valley Baseball Tournament,
were chip and sealed,
and a youth summer soccer camp. In
the basketball court
addition to the shelter reservations and
was resurfaced, and the
sporting events, park personnel asfour tennis courts were
sisted the Bath Park Board with their
crack sealed and re-colannual events throughout the year,
ored. At Bath Hill Park,
such as Chillin’ on the Hill, the State
the two tennis courts
of the Parks, the Rain Barrel Workand ½ basketball courts
shop, Fall into Nature, and the 4th
were also crack sealed
annual 8K Steeplechase/2K Family
and re-colored.
Fun Run. In June, over 400 people
As we venture into
enjoyed music, food, and artwork
2017, it is shaping up to be another exciting
from 30 artists during the Bath Art
and busy year in the parks. Residents and
Bog boardwalk dedication, Bath Pond observaFestival, a new event coordinated by
visitors can look forward to the completion
tion deck, and softball.
Renee Flynn.
of many projects, which include the compleBath Township was the recipient of a 2016 Summit tion of Bath Pond Path and resurfacing improvements to the
County Community Grant from the Ohio and Erie Canalway trail head parking at the Bath Nature Preserve, to name a few.
Coalition. The grant will be used to fund a footbridge cross- With so many activities, events, and trails, there are many
ing over Bath Creek on the Bath Nature Preserve. At the Bath reasons to visit Bath Parks in 2017.
Bath Historical Museum
T
he 2017 exhibit, “Ghent 1850-1950” will feature many interesting characters of the hamlet. Included are Delbert and Daisy Staats who operated the Staats general store and Jared Barker who was sheriff in 1902. Ann Heller Davis who taught at
the Ghent School and one of her students Anna McFarland will be highlighted. The colorful ‘Mayor of Ghent’, Nelson ‘Nelt’
Mills will be featured along with Thomas Pierson a local beekeeper at the Bee House. Ghent had many mills, including the
Yellow Creek feed mill, the Woolen mill, and the Barker sawmill. Former township clerk, Ford Crile was only eleven years old
at the time of the 1913 flood. His memories of the event will be shared.
Opening Monday, April 10 at 2:00 p.m.
Regular hours:
Mondays 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Last Saturday of the month 10:00 a.m. - Noon
Rummage Sale
March 10 &11, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Drop off times are Monday and Wednesday from 9-11 a.m.
Please call Gail at 330-285-4840 or Cindy at 330-697-7208
beforehand. Please no clothing or large furniture.
Save the Date
Historic Ghent Walking Tour
Sunday, May 7, 1 p.m.
Begins at the Bake Shop in Ghent
BATH TOWNSHIP QUARTERLY
Solid Waste and Recycling
A
s the waste management industry changes to exclusive contracts and more automated collection systems,
Bath’s Solid Waste District entered into an exclusive agreement with Rumpke Waste and Recycling. Changes included
vender supplied trash and recycling carts which are lifted
and dumped by mechanical arms on the trucks. This improved both the speed and safety of solid waste collection.
The requirement of semi-automated service in Bath means
that drivers will manually collect bags or odd items set at the
curb. Residents with very low volume of trash and recycling
may simply place a bag or two at the curb in lieu of using
the carts.
Both Rumpke and Bath residents experienced some
“learning curves” with these changes. However, most residents have welcomed the new carts and guidelines, and have
adapted nicely.
One requirement of the township’s bid specifications
was to include all shapes of plastic, numbers 1 through 7,
for recycling. Previously, Rumpke was only able to collect
bottle and jug shaped plastic. Township residents spoke up
and Rumpke now hauls our recycling to another facility to
accommodate this additional plastic.
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WINTER 2017
Solid Waste District Landlord Policy
Solid Waste Customers who are renting or leasing their
residence in the township shall provide a signed release
from the landowner to the township allowing for a party
other than the landowner to contract for service, prior to
the trash service start date. All past due charges for Solid
Waste service are placed as a lien on the property tax
duplicate regardless of the party holding the delinquent
account. Properties that are assessed shall be required to
pay the cost of one quarter of service in advance before
service can be reinstated. Upon vacating the residence,
the customer must notify the township to avoid continuing
charges.
Quarterly rates: January through June 30, 2017
Curbside: $49.50
Senior Curbside: $42.09 (65 years +)
Garage Door: $130.50 Senior Garage Door: $114.99 (65+)
2016 Solid Waste/ Recycling Totals
Solid Waste
Recycling
Total
3,749.56 tons
837.95 tons
4587.51 tons
19% Diverted
from Landfill
Simple Recycling - New Orange Bags Coming
T
he township offers curbside textile and household item recycling through
Simple Recycling. The company has provided green bags in which to place
clothing at the curb on regular trash collection days. Simple Recycling is switching
to bright orange bags. These will be easier for their drivers to spot as they travel
our roadways. Residents will be receiving the new bags in March. Please continue
to use the green bags until they are gone. For more information on the program,
visit: www.bathtownship.org.
Friends of Yellow Creek
T
he root system of common grass used in today’s lush suburban lawns only extends an inch or two into the soil below.
This allows little water to penetrate and thus causes much rain water to run off into drainage systems. During a major
rain event, it will add to the damage caused by storm water runoff. Shrinking your lawn and adding areas of native plants will
improve the absorption of water, anchor soil and improve the value of your home.
This concept was a major theme for the Friends of Yellow Creek during 2016. The group held a Native Plant Sale at Crown
Point during their annual organic plant sale in May. Ten species of plants were ordered and sold for $4 each or 3 for $10. The
volunteers sold many plants despite the very cold and rainy weather. They are looking forward to more plant sales in 2017.
In September, the FOYC hosted its first State of the Watershed program at the U of A Field Station.
This was well attended with standing room only by the time it began. Speakers reviewed the history
and activities of the FOYC. Adam Delaney, UA Grad Student, explained his stream monitoring thesis
project, and Brenda McShaffry introduced the Yellow Creek Foundation. Many stayed and enjoyed
refreshments at the Regal Beagle.
Everyone lives within a watershed. Most of Bath is in the Yellow Creek Watershed. Whether you
live on high ground, along a tributary, or along the lowest part of the creek, you can be affected by
stormwater runoff. It is everyone’s responsibility to be a good steward of their watershed. Learn how
to be part of the solution by visiting www.yellowcreekwatershed.org.
QUARTERLY
BATH TOWNSHIP
WINTER 2017
VOLUME 25 NUMBER 1
Bath’s 9th Annual
Rain Barrel Workshop
Saturday, April 8, 2017
10:00 AM
In the Regal Beagle
University of Akron Field Station
Bath Nature Preserve
4160 Ira Road
bathtownship.org for registration
Sponsored by:
Bath Park Board and
Summit Soil & Water Conservation
District
For more information visit:
www.bathtownship.org
Chillin’ On The Hill
Sunday, February 12, 1-4 p.m.
Ski, hike and bring your sleds to the sledding hill in the Bath Nature Preserve. The Park Board will provide a warming barrel and refreshments.
Join Dr. Randy Mitchell and Dr. Lara Roketenetz for a winter nature hike
at 2 p.m.
Spring Events in
State of the Parks
Thursday, March 16, 7-9 p.m.
A meeting for the public will be held in the University of Akron Field Station with refreshments following in the Regal Beagle. Topics include upcoming programs and events for the
Field Station, Bath Park Board, as well as past and future improvements to Bath Parks.
University of Akron Field Station Programs: Visit the Bath Parks webpage at
www.bathtownship.org or the Field Station calendar at http://fieldstation.uakron.edu/
Woodcock Walk
Late February/Early March - to be announced
Owl Prowl
Saturday, March 4, 6:30 p.m.
Meet at the UA Field Station (4240 Ira Rd.) for a dusk hike to look for owls - we will then return to
the field station to dissect owl pellets!
Salamander Walks
March through April, dates and times to be determined
Salamanders migrate and mate on cold damp nights as the snow is melting. Join Dr. Peter
Niewiarowski on a walk to spot these cute spotted creatures.
Wildflower Identification & Garlic Mustard Pull
April - to be announced
Learn about good and bad wildflowers. Help rid the Bath Nature Preserve of this invasive species.