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Geauga engineer pushes sharing of resources
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - August 25, 2011)
Geauga engineer pushes sharing of resources
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Road departments across Geauga County are taking stock of their inventories in the hope that someday shared resources will save taxpayers money.
Geauga County Engineer Robert Phillips said representatives from 14 of the 16 townships in the county met about two weeks ago at his request to discuss ways to help each other and reduce operating costs.
The idea grew from a conversation Mr. Phillips had at a township trustee association meeting in July with Burton Township Trustee James Dvorak.
"Collaboration saves money," Mr. Dvorak said, and he sees an opportunity for communities to help one another if the collaborative process is accepted.
He said, if one community has equipment that may be needed by another that is lacking the financial resources to purchase the same equipment, some type of rental agreement or memorandum of understanding could be worked out to allow for the sharing of that equipment.
Mr. Dvorak said those attending the meeting two weeks ago agreed to begin making lists of all their equipment, including years, makes and models. In addition, he said, road departments are being asked to list the number of full-time and part-time workers, as well as descriptions of the roles of the road superintendents.
Mr. Phillips said each community also was asked to say which pieces of equipment they could not afford but would like to have.
He said the county already has participated in a sharing program with equipment. County-owned equipment has been leased to communities that found the leasing program less expensive than buying the equipment outright.
He said the eastern townships in Geauga County struggle to find the money needed for road departments that serve all of their needs. In some cases, he said, those road departments may operate with one or two employees, which can put a strain on resources when a snowstorm strikes.
Mr. Phillips said he understands that taxpayers in some townships which have higher rates for road taxes may complain that they should not support other communities that don't enjoy the same support from their taxpayers.
"We'll try to break down those barriers and look for ways to ease those concerns," Mr. Phillips said.
Shared resources, he said, benefit everyone in the end. He said townships that now lack certain equipment may go to the equipment manufacturer to rent the needed equipment. Paying another township for the same equipment will allow that money to stay in the county, he said.
Mr. Dvorak said a subcommittee was formed to look at those types of questions. He serves as chairman for the subcommittee, which includes Munson Township Trustee Andrew Bushman, Claridon Township Trustee Mike Farrell, Parkman Township Road Superintendent Tom Evers and Geauga County School Superintendent Matt Galemmo.
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