Fingerprint services made available to residents

by Laura Bednar

July 25 township trustees meeting

Bath Township trustees approved private digital fingerprint services for residents and qualifying employees who work in Bath.

The township is now an authorized agency of Webcheck, a system through which agencies can transmit fingerprints and other data electronically to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to be compared against a database of criminal fingerprints, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s website.

Bath residents must make an appointment to have fingerprints taken. Fees are $30 for the police to send fingerprints to either the BCI or Federal Bureau of Investigation or $60 for both. According to the resolution, “Residents must bring with them a state photo identification, usually in the form of a driver’s license, social security card, or other proof of residency (utility bill).”

Police Chief and Township Administrator Vito Sinopoli said the police department received a $2,500 grant in December 2021 from the Bath Community Fund to add the fingerprint submitting software to the existing machines. Previously, the machines could only upload fingerprints in connection with criminal cases. Now, individuals who require a fingerprint check for employment, such as jobs in education or security, can use Bath’s service.

Zoning members approved

Trustees appointed two new members to the township zoning commission and one to the board of zoning appeals. Marshal Pitchford was appointed to the zoning commission as alternate member No. 1. His term will expire on July 1, 2023. Planning Director and Zoning Inspector William Funk said Pitchford is an attorney specializing in local government and zoning and has lived in Bath for three years.

Kyle Craven was appointed to the zoning commission as alternate member No. 2. His term will expire July 1, 2024. Craven works with a construction company on commercial projects and is renovating his recently purchased home in Bath.

Marci Fredrick was appointed to the board of zoning appeals as alternate member No. 2. Her term expires July 1, 2024. Funk said she is a nine-year resident of Bath, former attorney and was a member of the North Fork Preserve committee.

ABC hospital board

Chris Esker, district counsel to the Akron, Bath and Copley joint township hospital district, gave an update on the district’s efforts in public finance.

In June, the group worked on refinancing a $90.7-million bond, saving the Akron Children’s Hospital $23 million. Esker said the entity is a conduit financer and can only complete financial tasks within the contiguous area of Akron, Bath and Copley. The district members only answer to the Internal Revenue Service and will respond to public questions. ∞