The Middleton Township administrative complex will be closed May 25, 2020 in observance of Memorial Day. Township offices will also be closed on May 27, 2020 due to on-site maintenance.

The latest issue of GroundWork, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Active Transportation Newsletter, features results from two recently completed bicycle and pedestrian traffic safety reports. As part of developing the department’s Walk.Bike.Ohio plan, ODOT conducted analysis which examined crash data for pedestrians and bicyclists from 2009 through 2018 to understand safety trends for the state. Findings of the studies revealed a number of worrisome trends regarding increased bicyclist and pedestrian traffic fatalities, even as overall roadway fatalities decreased over the study period.

As warmer weather is finally here, let’s all remember to share the road with each other, whether we’re driving, biking or walking. Get more details on some of the top observations from the safety studies and how practitioners can use this information to help save lives in the GroundWork newsletter and at this site. For additional information on Ohio’s in-progress statewide pedestrian and bicycle plan, visit ODOT’s Walk.Bike.Ohio page.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the primary election originally scheduled for March 17 has been extended to April 28, 2020. If you have not already done so and wish to vote in the primary, note that you can no longer vote in person and must vote absentee. Fill out this form on the Ohio Secretary of State website to apply for an absentee ballot.

Township residents can drop off “live” Christmas trees for disposal until January 8, 2020 behind the township maintenance building between the large concrete barricades. Trees should be free of decorations and lighting. 

Now that the weather has turned colder, we would like to remind you about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas. CO poisoning can lead to unconsciousness and death. CO is found in fumes produced by furnaces, kerosene heaters, vehicles “warmed up” in garages, stoves, lanterns, and gas ranges, portable generators, or by burning charcoal and wood. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned and can die from breathing CO. Running gasoline powered appliances/equipment indoors, even in ventilated areas, can lead to CO poisoning. Remember to change the battery in your CO detector, and if you don’t have one, please install a new CO detector in your residence in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. And, remember to have your furnace serviced regularly. Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Safety Council will help you identify the hazards associated with CO as well as answer any questions you may have about safety in general.

Middleton Township businesses in need of fire extinguisher training to meet OSHA or insurance mandates should email Fire Chief Steve Asmus or call 419-352-6237 for details about scheduling and cost.