Morgan Township trustees approve warrants, purchase orders and grant deposits; set cybersecurity work plan

The Morgan Township Trustees on Wednesday, Oct. 15, approved a series of financial actions including a warrant listing of $92,679.14, two purchase orders covering a community-center HVAC replacement and firefighter protective gear, and resolutions to deposit two grants into township funds. Trustees also heard reports from the fire, parks and roads departments and were told the township must develop a cybersecurity framework to meet new state requirements under House Bill 96.

The trustees voted to approve a warrant listing covering payments dated Sept. 23 through Oct. 15, 2025, showing payment numbers 84020258992025 and 13313 through 13348 for a total of $92,679.14. Tina (staff member) moved the warrant approval; the roll call recorded trustees voting in favor.

Tina requested and the trustees approved two resolutions to record incoming grants in township accounts. Tina said, “I need a motion for resolution to 2025 and to deposit $7,612.50 into the fund that was received from the Bureau of Workman's Compensation for the firefighters exposure to environmental elements grant.” The board approved that deposit. Tina also asked for a resolution to add fund 2907 to the 2025 revenue and appropriations budget and to deposit $1,000 received from Butler Rural Community Connection to reimburse fund 2111; trustees approved that action as well.

In a separate purchase-order vote, trustees approved a $9,235 PO to Fire Safety Service Incorporated to outfit firefighters with new cancer hoods and gloves. The fire-department speaker said the total value of the equipment is about $9,000 and that “$7,615.20 will be from the newly established fund 02/1100, and $1,619.80 will be from fund 02/2011” to reflect grant matching requirements. The board approved the PO.

Trustees also approved a $10,813 purchase order for Valentino Construction to replace an air-conditioning system in the community center front room with a Bosch IDS inverter heat pump and coil, including a programmable thermostat and a 10-year manufacturer warranty. The motion specified the cost will come from fund 1,000.

Tina told trustees the township must adopt a cybersecurity framework to comply with House Bill 96. She said the township has adopted a cybersecurity policy and “will be working on a framework over the next 6 months that is required to be implemented by June 2026.” Tina added that, for transparency under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 9.64, executive sessions will be needed to discuss framework implementation and that “cybersecurity policies are confidential and not public record per ORC 149.43.” The trustees subsequently voted to go into executive session to consider the compensation of a public employee or official and adjourned to that session at 10:38 p.m.

Fire-department report and grants

A fire-department representative reported the department received a $10.56 donation from the Butler County General Health District in the form of Narcan, which the speaker said will be used by the department. The department has applied for a State of Ohio MARCS grant for two mobile radios and two portable radios totaling $13,509.60; the speaker said if awarded the radios would bring the department into compliance with no impact on township general funds. The department also applied for smaller Hanover Life Squad grants: one for $996 for accountability tags and another $3,158 round for lighting equipment. The speaker said the department conducted a full week of fire-safety instruction at Morgan Elementary and reported 418 responses or incidents so far this year — an increase of roughly 50 incidents from the prior year — and a turnout time of one minute 34 seconds, which the speaker said is below the cited national average of 2 minutes 44 seconds.

Parks and playgrounds

Parks updates centered on the new playground and pavilion, which trustees were told is drawing steady use. The parks speaker said a donated walkway from Neil Houser and private donations for a Tanya Ingles memorial sign have been finalized, and that the pavilion dedication is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1, pending fence completion. The speaker said the fence is expected to be finished “by the end of the month.” Trustees heard safety concerns after a driver used the walking trail as a service drive; the parks speaker said that incident prompted a recommendation to add bollards and improve camera coverage. Trustees agreed to add an additional camera and said they would pursue bollards and other visual controls to discourage vehicle traffic on pedestrian paths. A baby (under‑4) swing has been ordered to address community requests.

Roads and zoning

Roads staff reported attendance at the American Public Works Expo and said crews have finished concrete floors in two culvert pipes on Howard's Creek and have been finishing mowing and guardrail trimming. Next planned work includes pavement repair on Howard and Morgan Ross roads. Zoning staff reported no new certificates in October; the Zoning Commission will meet Nov. 5 and the Board of Zoning Appeals will meet Oct. 16 for training.

Why it matters

The financial approvals settle near-term township spending and record incoming grant money tied to firefighter safety. The cybersecurity work plan signals a new, state-required compliance task with a June 2026 implementation deadline. Park-safety steps and added cameras follow a near-miss where a vehicle used a walking trail; trustees said they will take low-cost measures such as bollards to reduce that risk.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of meeting minutes: Minutes for Sept. 22, 2025, approved by roll call (trustees recorded as voting in favor). Minutes for Sept. 26, 2025, and Oct. 1, 2025, were approved; one trustee (Mister Brooker) abstained on the Sept. 26 and Oct. 1 minutes, citing absence. Outcome: approved.

- Warrant listing approval: Payment numbers 84020258992025 and 13313–13348 totaling $92,679.14. Motion moved by Tina; roll call recorded trustees voting yes. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution to deposit $7,612.50 (Bureau of Worker's Compensation firefighter environmental exposure grant) into the appropriate fund. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution to add fund 2907 to the 2025 budget and deposit $1,000 from Butler Rural Community Connection to reimburse fund 2111. Outcome: approved.

- PO to Fire Safety Service Incorporated, $9,235, for firefighter cancer hoods and gloves (fund split recorded as $7,615.20 from fund 02/1100 and $1,619.80 from fund 02/2011). Outcome: approved.

- PO to Valentino Construction, $10,813, to install a Bosch IDS inverter heat pump and coil in the community center front room (to be paid from fund 1,000). Outcome: approved.

- Motion to move into executive session to consider appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official. Outcome: approved; board adjourned to executive session at 10:38 p.m.

Ending

Trustees scheduled follow-up items including work on the cybersecurity framework, camera adjustments and bollards for the park, and coordination with the county engineer’s office on road work in January. Zoning and parks events — including the tentative Nov. 1 playground dedication — will be announced once the fence installation date is confirmed.