Girl Scout Troop 21214 from Antwerp, Ohio, recently completed a community service project. This is the same troop that made and placed “Heroes Work Here” signs around the county, as well as, created and delivered goodie bags to essential workers when the initial Covid lockdown occurred in 2020.
This year, the girls decorated, packed, and delivered goodie bags to all the Paulding County township trustee snowplow drivers. In order for the girls to know the amount of supplies needed, the girls created phone scripts and attempted to call one trustee or fiscal officer from each township. Since some of the phone calls resulted in no answer, the girls created an email to send to gather the needed information, as well. Once we knew how many bags we would be creating, the girls set out to purchase items to be included. By word of mouth, our troop received a generous donation from the Gleaners to be able to purchase more items to be included. Before deciding on our project, our group discussed people who work in careers that don’t always receive the recognition or support that they deserve. Are you aware that there are almost 50 people within the 12 townships that help plow the roads when the weather is bad? These 50 people, along with the state and county snow plow drivers, help keep our roads open so we can travel wherever we need to go.
While working on this project, the girls learned about how trustees are elected and their basic responsibilities. Township officials are elected in November during the general election on odd numbered years. Township trustees serve 4 year terms unless unforeseen circumstances occur then someone is appointed to finish out the term. Township trustees take office January 1 following the election. Prior to being allowed to run for an election, candidates must obtain 25 township resident signatures on a nominating petition and file the petition with the county board of elections at least 90 days prior to the general election.
According to the Ohio Township Association website, “Ohio townships most commonly provide residents with services such as road maintenance, cemetery management, police and fire protection, emergency medical services, solid waste disposal, and zoning. Ohio townships have direct responsibility for maintaining 41,000 miles of roads and streets, and townships manage more than 2,400 cemeteries.” In Paulding county, there are close to 500 road miles and several cemeteries within the 12 townships that the trustees help maintain.
After the girls learned about the responsibilities of the trustees, the girls wanted to recognize the hard work that each of the trustees do and most of us don’t recognize.
