By Bill Morgan, Staff Writer

 

Two recent robberies at the local store and at Bailey Ray’s has law enforcement and town people concerned. At Wednesday’s Santiago Twp. Board meeting, the board members discussed information in regards to the break-ins with Deputy Andy Oaches.

 

 

Clerk Kathy Woolard, who runs the Santiago Country Store, said her store got robbed Monday evening in which the perpetrator stole cigarettes and other merchandise. Oaches said Bailey Ray’s was hit the same night and his investigation team is working diligently to track down and arrest the criminal.

 

Woolard said surveillance captures the suspect roaming the store and damaging property and bagging up items for at least a half-an-hour. She says he was dressed in all black and crawled around the store knowing where the surveillance cameras were.

 

A couple days earlier, Goodfella’s in Ronneby was hit by what looks like the same intruder. They posted a surveillance photo on their Facebook page and asked for the public to help in identifying the person.

 

Oaches said he thinks there may be a good crime stoppers reward associated with this crime and asked the public if anyone knows anything about any of the recent robberies, to contact the sheriff’s department.

 

 

The board had the township attorney draft a resolution to absolve the township from any responsibility should a conflict arise from past or present burials at the local cemetery.

 

A while ago, the township realized there is not a ledger keeping track of the burial sites at the cemetery and there are numerous unmarked graves. They have received requests for new burial plots, but are tentative in granting those burial plots because of the lack of burial records.

 

The letter and resolution from the attorney will allow the township to cease acceptance of burial plots and the resolution can be amended moving forward.

 

 

Dave Jehoich gave an update on the township roads.

 

He said the gravel on Harshman’s Rd. has been put down along with 7th and 59th Streets. He also mentioned trees and debris have been cleared around the township that have been blocking roads.

 

Jehoich said Aztec came in with a bid of over $29,000 for sealcoating along 62nd Street, but that project won’t get done until next spring. He did say the crack sealing of the township hall parking lot can be done this year at a cost of $1,625. It will then be sealcoated in the spring.

 

Jehoich said 19th Street behind Bailey Ray’s is “busted up”. John Herbst said he plans to go take a look at the road and do any patching that needs to be done.

 

Jehoich said some signs blew down recently and need to get fixed.

 

 

It was reported that new benches will be put in at the park on the poured cement pads. More cement is coming in for more pads.

 

Discussion about the softball fields at the park led to an idea to recruit someone to attempt to attract teams, tournaments and leagues to utilize the little-used fields. They tossed around the idea of advertising in the newspaper for people to help organize events for the softball fields.

 

 

The board discussed changing how they currently have been handling bills and claims so that is legally ethical.

 

Woolard suggested the township begin the process by advising all clients that claims need to be in to the clerk’s office by the first Wednesday of each month in order to be paid by the following Wednesday’s board meeting. The proper protocol would be for the clerk to receive the claims, then have the chairman sign them before going to the treasurer for remittance.

 

“If claims miss the first Wednesday of the month, the vendor will have to wait to get paid the following month,” said Chairman Stuart Nelson. “We have to go back to the old ways of doing things to be within the legal protocol.”

 

 

The next Santiago Twp. Board meeting is Aug. 8 at 7 p.m.