GRAND RAPIDS – Township trustees may make improvements to the early-warning siren in phases.
When they met on Monday, Trustee George Foos announced Federal Signal does not make screen kits, to
prevent birds from nesting, for the model of siren which the township uses.
"We’re on our own if we’re going to keep the birds out," he stated. "It’s just getting it
done. As soon as we’re done talking about it, we’ll forget about it."
He noted the company will not send out a representative if the trustees are only moving the current siren
instead of buying a new one. Foos said he was told the siren can’t be put too high.
"We can do it in steps," he suggested. "Get screens on it; then if we’re going to move it,
then look for a higher spot." The siren is currently at the old grain elevator, below some trees,
and two options considered for moving it are on the village water tower and at the township building.
The water tower may be too high to consider.
Trustee Les Heyman urged checking if Toledo Edison "would put in a 50-foot pole and move it for
us." He said the company donated a pole to Jerry City when its original one blew down.
Foos said he would rather see the trustees own a pole. Trustee George Limes said he would check with
Toledo Edison before their next meeting.
Naomi Twining from Toledo, and Dr. Dorinda Shelly, owner of the historic Pioneer Inn, attended the
meeting to present paperwork to the trustees announcing the Howard Family Farm had been accepted as part
of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Heyman told her it was better known as the Pioneer Inn,
and that the site was actually in Washington Township.
"The Howard House used to be in this township, so it’s a joint thing," stated Shelley. Twining
said she gave the same information to the Washington Township trustees.
"So far we’re thinking of putting the (Underground Railroad) memorial there by Dresden Howard’s old
narrow gauge railroad," she said. The railroad is next to the Maumee River bridge in town.
The trustees discussed two bids received for new construction at the township building, one to pour
concrete and one to construct the building. The trustees estimated it would cost about $20,000 to do all
the work.
Heyman described the new construction as "more of a cover than a building." He suggested doing
the concrete work first and made a motion to sign a contract with Top Excavating to do it, not to exceed
$9,800.
"It’s not going to hurt to have the concrete done. We’re going to need the concrete one way or the
other," Heyman stated.
Limes said he wanted to get something started since the trustees had been "tabling this and tabling
that."
Foos recused himself from voting since he did the design work. Heyman and Limes both voted to contract
with Top for the work.