By Dianne Rozak, Danbury Township Trustee

Danbury Township faced the same issues as the rest of the nation when the Covid-19 pandemic was declared. Serving the public required the township to quickly adapt, despite no longer keep township buildings open to the public because of extra staff needed for cleaning and disinfecting.

In 2021, Danbury Township continues to excel at meeting the needs of residents and visitors.

Road Superintendent Brett Waldron’s staff has done an extraordinary job of keeping parks, roads and township property in superb condition. The department was able to secure and distribute PPE equipment for staff, police, fire and EMS.

Township resident “free mulch days” continued at the brush drop-off site. Brush and leaf drop-off continue to be well-received and two clean-up weeks were held. Two very similar clean-ups will be scheduled for the 2021.

After the baseball and softball seasons were cancelled, the township athletic complex, as well as the other township parks, received general lawn maintenance. Meadowbrook vegetation control was applied to the phragmites at the marsh. Dike repairs are planned for Bayshore Road.

Lake Point Park bridges were reconstructed and hazardous trees and brush in the township roads and parks removed, with ditches monitored and cleaned. Seven roads received preventative maintenance, one road was paved, an erosion project was completed on Buck Road and the township acquired Regatta Passage Drive as a new road.

The Police Department and Chief Michael Meisler have eight full-time officers and K-9 Kalahan, handled by Officer Kyle Scott, to have an officer on duty 24/7 with seven marked and two unmarked vehicles. Danbury handled 3,335 township incidents, 18 incidents in the Village of Marblehead and 167 in Lakeside. The department has a regular presence at Danbury Schools and regular DARE program classes.

A two mil police levy on the March ballot passed. The Police Department, 419 S. Bridge Rd., offers secure recycling bins, document shredding and prescription disposal services. For house watch and senior watch, call 419-732-2549.

The Danbury Township Fire Department led by Chief Keith Kahler passed a three-quarter mil levy on the November ballot to enable a new central fire station to be constructed on East Harbor Road, just west of North Shore Blvd. Construction plans are underway.

The Fire Department reported 848 incidents, including 702 EMS calls, 34 fire calls, 27 motor vehicle accidents, 73 fire alarm activations, eight carbon monoxide activations and four mutual aid calls.

The department roster totals 40 fire and EMS staff who meet Monday evenings for training, updates and continuing education.

The Danbury Township Zoning Department overseen by Kathryn Dale, AICP, continues to be the center for residential and business growth and expansion. There were 300 permits issued, an increase of 61. Over the decade the average number of permits issued per year was 225. The month of June alone yielded 49 permits being issued, the most in a single month in the last 20 years.

Richard Kracer, who served 11 years on the Board of Zoning Appeals and four years on the Zoning Commission, passed away Dec. 20. His expertise will be greatly missed. For 2021 the department’s goals include studying the impacts of “R-C” recreational commercial zoning districts on residential properties, reviewing accessory building height and size ratio to lot size and conducting training for Board of Zoning Appeals and Zoning Commission members.

Township newsletters are published three times a year and available at danburytownship.com. On Nov. 20, the Rainbow Ridge Memorial at Meadowbrook Marsh was dedicated. Despite township buildings still being closed, all employees and elected officials are available to the public via phone or email. All contact information and up-to-the-minute news is available on the website.

Trustees John Paul Dress and Dave Hirt join me in wishing everyone a very safe and productive 2021. Fiscal Officer Carolyn Adams and Assistant Fiscal Officer Susan Dress continue to work diligently to keep the financial side of township business up to speed and in compliance. We are all working very hard to meet the continual growing needs of Danbury Township. Please do not hesitate to call any them with questions and ideas.