MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison Township trustee chair Tom Craft announced April 15 that the brownfield at 861 Expressview Drive has been cleared for redevelopment.
“We’re good to go on that lot next door — they’ve cleared the contaminated soil,” Craft said. “The state grant and the Land Bank paid some money to get that done and we’re set.”
The 861 Expressview Drive was a former manufacturing and print shop.
State demolition funds from the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program dedicated $41,250 for cleanup and remediation of the site after testing for contaminated soil.
The Richland County Land Bank paid for a secondary study through a grant.
About 102 cubic yards of impacted soil were removed in August 2023 and tests determined the efforts were successful. Soil confirmation sampling tests determined the land meets Ohio Environmental Protection Agency standards for commercial cleanup projects.
Trustees have previously discussed the site as potential for a new main fire station.
“It’s buildable the way it is, but if we bid that out, we’ll probably have to include taking out that foundation and doing site work,” Craft said. “Right now, it’s way too high to build if we build.”
Trustee Jim Houser estimated the board has been reviewing soil confirmation sampling tests since summer 2022 to determine when the property would be cleared for future development.
Fire Dept. hires 4 part-time firefighters
Also in Monday’s meeting, trustees approved hiring four part-time firefighters pending background checks and physicals.
Dennis Gast is a full-time firefighter and paramedic with the Springfield Township Fire Department. He lives in Mifflin Township.
Zach Hamman has completed a volunteer firefighters course and is in an EMT class. His brother Luke previously worked for the Madison Township Fire Department before transferring to Ashland.
Keaton Niese is a U.S. Marines veteran and certified EMT-Basic.
McKenna Vandyke is also a certified EMT-Basic. Fire Chief Ken Justus said many of the Madison firefighters already know Vandyke because she completed her EMT-Basic ride-along training with the Madison fire department.
The start date for the four firefighters will be April 20.
Also in Monday’s meeting:
- Trustees approved $128,000 to purchase a used 2018 ambulance discussed at their last meeting.
- Fiscal Officer Leanna Rhodes said the township has received its distribution of first-half annual property tax collections. The $1.5 million is 6% higher than the collection from the first half of last year. This was partly because of property revaluations.
- Trustee Dan Fletcher said he has prepared a draft of the proposed replacement fire levy for legal review.
- Fletcher said he has researched pricing for summer road paving depending on how thick the asphalt is. He said he thinks the township could pave about 3.25 miles of roads with 1.5 inches of overcoat or 4.5 miles with one inch. County engineer Adam Gove recommended 1.5 inches for the trustees’ list of roads last year.
- Trustees read a reminder for the Richland County Solid Waste Management Authority hosting its first of two home hazardous waste disposal events on April 20. The free event will accept 1,500 cars or the maximum weight capacity. Residents can bring allowed items to the Richland County Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.
