At the December 13, 2016 meeting of the Bethel Township – Miami Trustees, the trustees approved the hiring of two new employees to the Bethel Township Fire Department. Darrin Sweargin will serve the department as a volunteer fire fighter only. In addition, Victoria Lavey was hired and will serve the department as a fire fighter and as a certified paramedic.

Fire Chief Andy Ehrhart reported that the fire department made 28 runs between November 19, 2016 and December 9, 2016. They responded to two building fires and one boiler malfunction, and two trash fires. They also responded to 20 emergency medical service calls, including three motor vehicles accidents with injuries.

In regular business, the trustees approved a payment of $7,460.00 to Access Engineering for design work on the Phoneton Water System. They also approved a one-year service agreement with Physio-Control, Inc. for $2,934.96 for the calibration and maintenance of the cardiac monitors, AEDs, and Lifepacks used by the Bethel Township Fire Department.

For Planning and Zoning, Planning and Zoning Director Marty Caskey reported that one zoning application was submitted; however, it is pending due to a variance request for a pole barn that exceeds the allowed square footage at 7930 Singer Road.

Furthermore, Caskey reported that two addition variance applications are in process. The owners of the property at 5930 Rudy Road and 6185 Dayton-Brandt Road requested variances for pole barns that exceed the specified pole barn height. The Bethel Board of Zoning Appeals will meet on December 22, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. to hear the three cases.

In addition, the Bethel Township Zoning Commission will meet on December 22, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. to hear a request to rezone and split a 10.024-acre parcel from A-2 General Agriculture to A-1 Domestic Agriculture. The proposed spit would divide the parcel into two lots, one 4.03 acres, the other 5.994 acres. Pending approval by the Zoning Commissioner, the trustees will hold a public hearing on the case on January 10, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. before the regularly scheduled trustee meeting.

Ehrhart announced that the Township Office would be closed December 26 and 27, 2016 in observance of Christmas and January 2, 2017 in observance of New Years.

The next meeting of the Bethel Township Trustees is scheduled for December 27, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the township meeting room.