Visual Improvement Program

Washington Township , Ohio

3:30PM

VIP members present: Marlene Tiernan, Co-Chairperson; Gordon Dodane, Bob Harrington, Mabel Leyes. Angela Hodson and Sandra Drain. Township staff members present: Mike Wanamaker and Vinnie Keane. Sandra Spees, VIP Consultant was also present. George Brooks was introduced as a visitor.

Andy Ehrhart , Zoning & GIS Manager, will speak at the April VIP meeting.

Spees collected the landscape review questions that she had distributed. These comments will be added to the evaluation of the proposed township landscape review.

Spees presented work being done. Keane has a source for spruce trees that may be available to the township. A contract may be developed to acquire trees. Several areas at Countryside Park are in need of tree replacement and/or screening.

Eight more large landscape pots are needed for various township sites. Harrington moved to have Conway Express deliver said pots from Al’s Garden Art. Leyes seconded. It was approved.

Six Armstrong maples are needed to complete the planting along Paragon Road at Spring Valley Pike. Leyes moved to accept the best quote for the trees. Drain seconded. It was approved.

Drain explained the 5 year Arbor Day program and gave members handouts of prepared materials for sites within the township.

Hithergreen Senior Center plan was accepted by the HSC board so 3 river birch will be planted at the center for Arbor Day activities on April 28 th if accepted by the VIP.

Keane reported that the Rec Center approved the installation of 15 trees for a buffer along the east side of Countryside Park. A legend outlining the placement of various species of trees will be determined and placed in the park. After looking into cost of placing identification tags on trees in the park it was decided to use Fast Signs since they gave the best price and material. The signs will be 5” X 7” acrylic etched with the botanical name, common name and tree shape. The signs may be attached with a spring loaded screw of placed on a cedar post. Twenty will be done this year with more to be done in future years.

Hodson gave handouts she prepared for cemetery sites. Discussion of the material followed. Drain moved to install signage at Countryside Park; to install 3 river birch at Hithergreen; and to plant trees at Woodbourne Cemetery. Tiernan seconded. The motion was not accepted by a unanimous vote.

Drain moved to order tree identification tags for Countryside Park; install 3 river birch at Hithergreen and one spruce at Countryside Park; and to continue the fine work of Hodson’s on the cemeteries. Tiernan seconded. It was approved.

Keane noted that the price of digging the spruce would be $45. Spees will get quotes for the river birch.

The VIP meeting time was discussed. Suggestions of moving the time to 3:45PM or 4PM were made. The committee will continue the discussion at the April meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:25PM.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:15PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra Spees