By Amanda Ensinger
Staff Writer
Several staff members in Prairie Township were recognized for going above and beyond to help a community member in need.
At a recent board meeting, Prairie Township Community Center employees Erin Hess, Michael Pollack and Iain Herring were recognized for saving the life of a community center member.
“A member of our center was working out with his daughter when he collapsed,” said Courtenay Chaffin, aquatics supervisor for the Prairie Township Community Center. “From performing CPR to using the defibrillator to calling 911, these employees saved this member’s life.”
The employees received the American Red Cross Award, one of the highest awards given by the American Red Cross. The award recognizes individuals or a team for using the skills and knowledge learned during their training to save or sustain a life, according to their website.
“Today we are here to celebrate life and the American Red Cross is all about saving lives,” said Mary Lynn Foster, chief executive officer for the Ohio Buckeye Region of the American Red Cross. “The skills these employees learned during their training saved this person’s life. Their quick action and teamwork are why they are receiving the highest award given by the Red Cross for those involved in a lifesaving event.”
Speeding Concerns
The trustees discussed continuing issues with speeding in the township and approved purchasing two temporary speed bumps for North Grener Road.
“As a result of a recent traffic study, we recommend doing something less invasive,” said Rob Peters, township administrator. “We feel adding temporary speed bumps is the best course of action. If this has a significant impact, we can then discuss later making them permanent.”
Peters also said temporary speed bumps give the township the flexibility to move them to other areas of the township to slow down traffic.
The board approved spending up to $10,000 on the temporary speed bumps, which will include installation cost.
Other areas of concern included speeding on Beacon Hill Road and people improperly using the roundabouts in the township. Residents also questioned if the new speed trailers of Beacon Hill are working.
“If someone goes over five miles per hour, their speed limit is not displayed,” Peters said. “The trailers are working, it just is programmed to not show a person’s speed over five miles per hour because we don’t want to encourage people to speed further.”
New Website
The board unveiled the new website to township residents.
“We just launched the new website and improved the appearances and made it more accessible,” said Amanda Foster, township administrative assistant. “We added further navigation, enhanced the homepage, updated the calendar and added news and announcements.”
Residents asked Foster when older trustee meeting notes will be available via the website.
“Right now, we have notes from as far back at 2012 online,” Foster said. “We are scanning meeting notes from before 2012 and will get those online as we get them scanned.”
Other new features on the website include a community feedback section, easier accessibility to township resources and a direct feed to the township’s social media via the homepage.
