OFFICE LOCATION The MCDO office is located within the former Gast Building on Franklin Street (State Route 274) east of the Post Office in Chickasaw. MCDO meetings are normally held the third Wednesday of each month at 8:00 p.m. at the Marion Township building at 2031 Clune Stucke Road north of State Route 119 in St. Rose. Reminders are printed in the church bulletins and town news.

    The ball diamond fencing for the park is now 100% complete. The fencing was partially funded with a state NatureWorks grant and township park funds collected through donations.
    There are many upcoming projects in the works. We have received a grant for sidewalks on the west side of St. Johns Road to connect to the ones on SR 119.
    The grant money along with other contributions will bring the sidewalk almost half way through the park. The park board is hoping to find the funds to continue the sidewalk through the rest of the park ending at the north end of the woods.
    Harry Heitkamp of Dynamic Weld has donated a storage building. We hope to get the building dismantled this spring and moved to the park. We will be asking for volunteers to help with this project. Rethman Construction has committed to putting in the foundation for the building.
    This summer will be spent preparing the diamonds for use. The weather this past fall did not allow us to get the stones picked up and dirt brought in. The ball diamonds will definitely be ready for use in the spring of 2002.
    We also have preliminary plans drawn for a concession/restroom area. This is an extremely costly project. We will have to wait for grant money and donations to fund this project.

    The village is planning of the reconstruction of South North Street going south out of town.
    As warm weather approaches, the streets will be swept and flowers planted in the flower boxes located on Main Street.

• The Village recently cleaned up the front of the new village property located next to the fire department. Old concrete and a small building were removed as well as new gravel added to the parking area and drives.
• Curbs will be installed along South Roosevelt Street (State Route 716) south of State Route 274.
• A leaf vac was recently purchased to be used this fall. This should help with the leaf burning concerns many residents have in the fall months. We have also added yard waste bags that can be purchased for disposal of grass clippings, leaves, plant trimmings, etc. These will be picked up at the curb just as the trash bags and recycle bags. The village discourages open burning because of safety and health concerns. We are attempting to provide these other alternatives to open burning. Also, remember we have as one of our local businesses, Ohio Recycling, that accepts many of the items residents are currently burning such as newspaper, junk mail, magazines and plastic bottles. We would like everyone to work together to help keep Chickasaw a neat, clean and safe place to live.

    While we all try to do things to keep our properties neat and clean, occasionally some things do not get the attention they deserve. A couple of items that need a little more attention are the unlicensed vehicles that are setting at a few properties around the township. These vehicles create an appearance of clutter.
    There are a few places where people have burn piles in the roadway side ditches. The burn piles are very unsightly and also create potential water pollution concerns as they are setting in areas that drain to our streams. These are also against the law as this property is public and placing trash in a public right of way is considered littering.
    Let's all try a little harder to keep the Township a neat, clean and healthy place to live.
    The Trustees are actively planning the 2001 road improvement projects.

    The construction project is progressing very nicely. The site work portion of the project is 95% complete and the underground storm drainage across the parking lot to the west of the high school is also complete. The asphalt paving will be completed at a later date. The footers at the high school are 99% complete with the exterior walls scheduled for completion very soon. The exterior brick was pre-purchased last July, but the manufacturer cannot guarantee delivery until May. Interior corridor ceiling demolition is complete in both buildings. The electrical work will begin very shortly on third shift.
    At the elementary school, the footers are complete and the load bearing walls will be completed very shortly. Structural steel is being put in place and the roof decking is being installed on the kindergarten addition. Planning has begun to purchase furnishings for the project and the cost of the loose furnishings is included in the project. The cistern that will contain the water necessary to operate the fire protection system is being excavated at this time and will be completed soon.
    Please be careful when visiting the school and be aware of the increased traffic and hazards due to construction.