Costs for trash service in Jackson Township are going up, but compared with surrounding communities, the service is still a bargain.
As of Jan. 1, residential bills for Local Waste Services are going up by approximately $1.20 per month to $13.21, which includes an additional 40 cents for Solid Waste Authority fees. The hauler contract was renewed following action by township trustees on Nov. 25.
"We have the lowest full service rate in Franklin County," said Chairman David Burris. "It’s a good deal. They do a great job."
According to Administrator Mike Lilly, similar municipalities with exclusive trash districts pay up to $15 per month with many incurring an additional fuel/environmental surcharge. Residents with private service pay more. The per-quarter rate was $35.04 and increases to $39.63 the first of the year.
In other news
•The trustees approved a real estate contract with the Buckeye Ranch for over two acres of land located near the fire station on State Route 665. The transaction initially started in April when the trustees authorized the sale of approximately 2.6 acres at a set cost. However, when the parcel was surveyed, it was only 2.13 acres and the contract was revised to $299,159.
•Administrator Mike Lilly reported although preliminary scoring of Ohio Public Works Commission local grant projects is over, the commission decided not to allocate set-aside funds for townships.
"This means the White Road phase two project was not selected for funding," said Lilly.
If the set-aside had been in place, the Jackson Township project would have been the number one scoring project. The OPWC committee indicated that set-aside funds will return in the 2009 cycle. The White and McDowell Road intersection project is proceeding as scheduled with design work by Ribway Engineering nearly 40 percent completed.
"EMH&T was a little disappointed that the committee didn’t have set-asides for townships. The city of Columbus took all the money for the Rich Street bridge, but out of all the township projects, we were number one."
•A public hearing will be held on Dec. 8 when the township moves its afternoon meeting to 7 p.m. to accommodate discussions on a proposal to add a quarry operation at the Jones topsoil site on Jackson Pike.
Potential annexation into Columbus could pave the way for the gravel quarry operation, but the idea is facing growing opposition from the township, neighboring property owners, and Grove City. Trustees again met with Dave Jones, representing the Jones Fuel Company, prior to the Nov. 25 meeting before setting the December hearing with township and Grove City representatives, along with neighboring businesses and residents.
Landowner Dick Jones started operations with a small-scale topsoil business on the site in the early 1980s when the 89-plus acre site was part of Franklin County and subject to county zoning. A township zoning appeals board member said the board has no problem with continuation of the present business or Jones. However, board members have major concerns with expanding the topsoil operation into a large-scale quarry.
