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Norwich Township trustees approve safety equipment purchases, deny cemetery tower lease and oppose Anderson Farms site plan
Summary
At the Sept. 2 meeting trustees approved safety equipment and facility improvements totaling roughly $135,000 in capital purchases, denied a request to lease cemetery land for a telecommunications tower and voted to send an opposition letter to the City of Columbus over the Anderson Farms conceptual site plan citing density concerns.
Norwich Township Board of Trustees met Sept. 2, 2025 in Hilliard and approved a series of safety equipment purchases, facility improvements and budget amendments while denying a land-lease request for a telecommunications tower at Wesley Chapel Cemetery and voting to oppose the Anderson Farms conceptual site plan.
Chairman Greg Young and Trustees Rick Tidd and Sonny Cantrell voted unanimously on all motions recorded during the 6:00 p.m. meeting.
Township and public-safety updates: Fire Chief Dave Baird presented August calls-for-service data, said the department welcomed two new hires who began Sept. 1 and reported that 47 candidates are signed up for the upcoming agility test. Baird said mold at Station 82 had been removed, attic ventilation and fans are under review, and that firefighter Jon Spryn had been awarded a $2,400 grant to help buy thermal imaging equipment. Police Chief Mike Woods presented an August calls report and announced the First Responders Park rededication ceremony scheduled for Sept. 11, 2025.
Approved purchases and improvements: The trustees approved buying three Seek FirePRO 300 thermal imagers from Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc. for $3,441.24 and four complete sets of turnout gear from Phoenix Safety Outfitters for $18,970.00. They also approved purchasing a 2026 Chevy Tahoe from Byers Chevrolet for $58,972 to replace EMS 80 as a backup vehicle and authorized exterior improvements to the Safety Services Building totaling $53,685.88 through multiple vendors. Separately, trustees approved a contract with Newcomer Concrete to replace extruded curbs with 6x18 curbs at a total project cost of $30,635; the administration said that cost will be split with the City of Hilliard. The board also approved hiring Ahlum & Arbor to remove a tree at Wesley Chapel Cemetery for $2,250.
Budget and administration: On behalf of Fiscal Officer Omar Tarazi, Township Administrator Jamie Fisher presented and the trustees approved the 2025 amended permanent appropriations. Fisher also explained the board would mail an opposition letter regarding the Anderson Farms conceptual site plan to City of Columbus Development Director Michael Steven, citing concerns that the Metro Development plan calls for 1,174 residential units with no mixed-use component while the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan designates the area for mixed-use at roughly five to eight units per acre.
Cemetery matters: The trustees tabled an eligibility-exception request for purchasing graves at Wesley Chapel Cemetery to obtain additional information from the requestor. The board voted to deny a land-lease agreement request for a telecommunications tower at Wesley Chapel Cemetery.
Votes at a glance: all recorded motions passed unanimously (Tidd-Yes, Young-Yes, Cantrell-Yes).
What happens next: The administration will mail the Anderson Farms opposition letter to the City of Columbus Development Director and proceed with the contracted purchases and facility work. The board adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
