BATH TOWNSHIP – The Bath Township 2017 Annual Road Report, recently submitted to the township board of trustees, shows how local tax dollars were put to use during the township’s 2017 road-construction season.

Bath Township Road Supervisor Vern Heizer presented the six-page report to the trustees during the Nov. 1 township meeting. The report included detail information about the 72 roads in the township that total 29.826 square miles of paved roads.

The surface condition of each township road was noted in the report, which included 38 roads listed in excellent condition, 18 roads rated in good condition, six roads in fair condition, eight roads in poor condition and two roads listed with mix conditions. Heizer explained that logging the current condition of each road helps set the course of action for the township road department next year.

Construction, repairs and maintenance last completed on each township road were also detailed in the report, including road improvements completed this year on 24 roads. In 2017, a skin patch aggregate was applied to 15 township roads, including 12 roads that were also treated with chip seal and fog seal pavement surface treatments. Chip seal and fog seal treatments were applied to five other township roads as well, which brings the total of township roads treated with both a chip seal and fog seal treatment this year to 17.

Deerhorn and Woodhaven Trails underwent significant road construction this year, including skin patching, crack sealing, and microsurfacing. Skin patch, crack seal, chip seal and fog seal surface treatments were also applied to a deteriorated Wilkerson Road. Surface repairs were performed on Herr Road and a number of other township roads during the 2017 road-construction season, as well as a crack seal application to Linebaugh Road that was not included in the annual report. Several roads in Byron Cemetery were resurfaced in October, and Heizer noted that several deteriorated guardrails along township roadways would be replaced before the winter months.

“We are looking at approximately five roads that will need to be addressed next year because we completed so much this year,” Heizer said. “These roads are not heavily traveled but are in poor condition.”

Those township roads that are presently listed in poor condition are Castle Drive, Clearcreek Trail, Edna Drive, Hamilton Drive, Paul Lane, Old Spangler Road, Spangler Road and Upper Valley. The south end of Sand Hill road and the lower half of Union Road are also in poor condition and in need of repair, according to Heizer.

“We made serious progress this year,” Township Trustee President Steve Ross said. “That’s good.”

According to Township Fiscal Officer Elaine Brown, contracted services and materials for in-house road repairs for 2017 totaled approximately $125,000.

Township Trustee John Martin motioned to approve the annual road report, seconded by Township Trustee Tom Pitstick. The motion passed with a 3-0 vote.

In other business, Heizer reported to township trustees that the township park, located behind the Bath Township office at 1006 Yellow Springs-Fairfield Road in Fairborn, is officially closed for the year. He said the park would reopen around April 2018.

Heizer told township trustees that the park underwent a thorough cleaning. Four shelter houses and the playground area were cleaned up, and all trash was collected and removed. The soccer field and basketball court were cleared of debris, and the porta johns were cleaned and treated as well. He noted that the gate at the entrance of the park is now locked. However, anyone who wants to use the walking path during the winter months can park in the parking lot, located next to the township office, and access the walking path by foot.

“We do not plow the snow or maintained the park during the winter months, so it is locked up until we reopen the park in the spring,” said Heizer.

The Bath Township Board of Trustees will meet again in regular session at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6. All regular sessions are held in the meeting room at the township office. The public is welcomed.