A Message from Chief Joe Bandagski about the eclipse

On Monday, April 8, 2024, at approximately 3:15 PM, people within a 124-mile band in Ohio will experience a Total Solar Eclipse. The path of totality includes Sheffield Lake and Avon Lake. An event such as this has increased the population of this area by 300,000- 600,000 people.

Sheffield Township is responsible for protecting our residents and visitors to our community. Therefore, we have joined forces with our communities to maintain our services during this event. We are still in the planning phase, which will continue until the day of the event.

To properly prepare for this event, it is essential first to prepare our residents. In these early stages, we can pass along information that we have.

Past events have shown spectators will trickle in throughout the weekend of April 5th, 6th, and 7th. This may or may not cause traffic congestion.

Spectators will be utilizing stores, restaurants, gas stations, hotels, and other small businesses, showing a significant increase in business. All hotels within 100 miles have been reported as completely booked.

The number of spectators to attend this event depends on the predicted weather. 

With an increased population, cell phones, the internet, and other services may be overwhelmed.

We anticipate our biggest problem to be on April 8th following the eclipse. History has shown that most spectators will immediately attempt to leave the area. Sheffield Township has many major routes leading to I-90, which include SR57, Broadway Ave., North Ridge Rd, Elyria Ave., and Clinton Ave. We anticipate that spectators desperate to leave the area will choose these routes to avoid traffic. We believe that this event, given good weather, will bring traffic to a halt. This will increase response times and possibly block our crews from responding to emergencies involving our residents and their homes. For this reason, we are attempting to add extra manpower for the duration of this event.

It is in the best interest of our residents to prepare for this event in the weeks prior. This includes stocking food that will be needed, obtaining prescriptions the week before, keeping your cell phone battery charged, and scheduling all appointments before or after the weekend of the event.

PLAN TO STAY HOME IF POSSIBLE!

If you plan to view this event, please get the best eye protection for you and your family. Solar eclipse glasses are available online and may be available at local retail outlets as we get closer to the event.

Like most Fire Departments in this area, we will plan for the worst and hope for the best. We would rather over-prepare than explain to our residents why we were underprepared. We will always exhaust all measures to keep our residents and visitors safe. I encourage our residents to research this event online and its effects on local communities in the past.

Legal notice

The 2023 Annual Financial Report for Sheffield Township is complete and available for viewing at the office of Fiscal Officer Joseph Neuhoff, 5166 Clinton Ave. Lorain, OH 44055. Please call 440- 277-1392 for an appointment.

Lorain County Solid Waste

The Lorain County Solid Waste Management District would like to share various updates with our 34 community partners. Please feel free to update information on your own websites and/or social media pages. Our Collection Center Flyer has the most updates, so please encourage residents to continuously check our website for updates.


 Lorain County Collection Center Participation Guidelines

 

Pack materials in the backseat or trunk of your vehicle.

New Partnerships:

The Lorain County Solid Waste Management District and Collection Center are proud to partners with the Lorain Lions Club/Lions Clubs International and Planet Aid. Residents of Lorain County can now bring items to be donated to Planet Aid or the Lions Club, during regular business hours at the Lorain County Collection Center.

 

Lion Club:

The Lions Clubs are asking people to donate their used prescription eyeglasses, prescription and non-prescription sunglasses to the Lions Recycle For Sight program. The donated glasses will be shipped to a reginal Lions Eyeglasses Center where they will be cleaned, categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution in developing countries where eye care is often unaffordable and inaccessible. Since 1917, Lions Clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and have made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.

 

Planet Aid:

Please be advised that all textiles must be CLEAN and BAGGED in clear plastic bags when being dropped off for donation. Collection Center staff have the right to refuse donations being made to Planet Aid if they do not meet the standards that are being set by the Collection Center.

The following items are being accepted:

The following textiles are NOT being accepted:

The following items are NOT being accepted:

 

 As always, if you are not doing so already, please like and follow our Social Media pages:

Do you have questions about the Operation and Maintenance of Home Sewage Treatment Systems?

You probably received an invoice in the amount of $120 from the Lorain County Public Health Department.

You may find answers to common questions in the FAQ document at loraincountyhealth.com/sewage under Fact Sheets and Information for Homeowners. If you don't find what you need there, call 440.384.3240 and they will get back to you ASAP.

If you received an invoice from Lorain County Public Health and DO NOT have a septic system, please contact them at 440-322-6367 or 440-244-2209.

Important Information about Home Sewage

Click Here

Engineer's Office planning Lorain County road safety projects in 2025, 2026

The Chronicle-Telegram

Jul 02, 2023 6:00 AM

The Lorain County Engineer's Office is collecting survey data and doing environmental studies for four upcoming construction projects that should make Lorain County roadways safer in the coming years.

Public notices on the engineer's website state that the work will include new sidewalks in Sheffield Township, a new bridge in Wellington Township, a roundabout in Carlisle Township and safety improvements on a portion of Lake Avenue in Elyria Township starting in 2025 and 2026. Read more.

Do You Have a Noise Complaint?

Call the Lorain County Sheriff's non-emergency number at 440.329.3710. To read the resolution, click here.

Bulk Pickup Reminder!

Rumpke will collect bulky items on your regular service day. You may place bulky items out for collection on one day during each calendar month at no charge. There will be a charge for collection of bulky items on additional days in the same month. Any item placed outside the trash cart will be considered a bulky item. Plastic bags for mattresses and other upholstered furniture can be obtained at 5166 Clinton Ave.

Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC)

IMPORTANT UPDATE: NOPEC Electric Aggregation to Resume June 2023. Find out more here. It's up to each household to decide whether to opt-out. If you no longer have the mailer they sent, you can opt-out by calling 855-667-3201. The township is impartial.

Poison Hemlock

One of the absolute worst and deadliest plants in America.

Hemlock poisoning

Hemlock Poisoning

Poison hemlock is one of the deadliest plants found in North America.


According to the Cleveland Clinic, “poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a highly toxic plant that’s a member of the carrot family. It’s commonly mistaken for wild carrot, wild parsnip or wild parsley. This can lead you to accidentally eat it (ingestion). Every part of the hemlock plant is poisonous, including the seeds, root, stem, leaves and fruit. It can be fatal if ingested. Ancient Greeks used poison hemlock to execute criminals or political prisoners. The most famous example of this is the execution of Socrates.” Read more.

Help for Hoarding Disorder

Signs to Look For:

Most surfaces, such as countertops, sinks, stoves, and desks, are piled with items in the home.

The clutter may also have moved outside to the yard, garage or vehicles when there is no more room inside the home.

There are stacks of newspapers, magazines, or junk mail.

The person often moves items from one

pile to another without throwing away anything.

The person cannot throw things away, accumulating unnecessary items such as trash.

The person has difficulty managing daily activities and making decisions, organizing items, and has an extreme attachment to items.

The person often experiences shame or embarrassment


To learn more about available help, please contact


Lorain County Public Health


440-322-6367


Ask for Environmental Health

First Energy Financial Assistance Programs

“The pandemic has increased the financial hardships our customers are facing, particularly as the cold weather approaches,” said Ed Shuttleworth, president of FirstEnergy’s Ohio Operations. “Customers who have lost income during this crisis and who are behind on their utility bills may be eligible for assistance that was unavailable to them before.”


Programs customers may be eligible to participate in include:


• The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP): Allows customers to pay a set percentage of their income toward their electric bill, regardless of the balance. Customers who maintain their payment plans may be eligible for debt forgiveness. Eligible customers should have income below 150% of federal poverty guidelines. To apply, call 1-800-282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov. 


• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): Provides eligible customers with cash grants for home heating bills and emergencies. Customers must have gross income below 175% of federal poverty guidelines. Call the Ohio Development Service Agency at 1-800-282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov for more information.


• 2-1-1 Helpline: This nationwide resource and information helpline identifies locally available programs that may assist customers with utility bills or other needs. For more information, dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898211 or visit the 211 website.


• Customers who are having difficulty paying utilities, rent or mortgage due to the pandemic may apply for a Home Relief Grant. Visit https://oacaa.org/agency-directory/ for an agency near you.


• Additionally, the $175 Winter Reconnect Option allows residential customers who are disconnected or at risk of disconnection the opportunity to pay a designated amount to have their service restored or maintained. There is no income eligibility requirement. PIPP customers who use this option may be eligible to have a reset of their past due amount.


For a complete list of assistance programs for which customers may be eligible, including installment payment plans and budget billing, please visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist, or call customer service:


Ohio Edison 1-800-633-4766


Ohio Edison serves more than one million customers across 34 Ohio counties. Follow Ohio Edison on Twitter @OhioEdison, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OhioEdison, and online at www.ohioedison.com.

The Illuminating Company serves 750,000 customers across Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. Connect with The Illuminating Company at www.illuminatingcompany.com, on Twitter @IlluminatingCo and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IlluminatingCo.


FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. The company’s transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp.

request from the road department

PLEASE do not put leaves or branches in the road. Place them on your curb area/tree lawn. Thank you. 

Disposing of Bulky Items

Please be sure to properly prepare your bulk items before disposal.

Here's how you can help keep Rumpke drivers safe:

Soliciting

Please be aware that anyone soliciting within the Township must first obtain a permit. Solicitors must carry a copy of this permit and identification. Permits are valid for one year from the issue date. Groups such as schools and scouts are exempt.