2022-Present Accomplishments
*Instrumental in the hiring of James Jewell as Township Administrator
*New Business Building in Prairie Township, Valvoline, and Dutch Bro (coffee chain)
*Worked with FCSO to receive our own private Sheriff phone number for our residents 614.982.2186 #2
*Total of 5 Million Dollars in Grants
*New Welcome signs at the Eastern & Northern limits of W. Broad. No cost to Prairie Township residents. CIC funded
*3rd Party donation of $75,000 for a new Sheriff car for the Township
*Replaced all playground equipment in all 5 parks & Sports Complex 150,000 Grant
*Baby Haven Box, 25,000 Grant (first in Franklin County, only 8 in Ohio) will be installed soon
*Exterior Property Maintenance, January 2025 (4 open meetings to the public)
*Detachment of the Sports Complex and Community Center from Columbus, Zoned into Prairie Township
*Acquired 57 acres of permanent conservation land behind Village Park subdivision with a Grant
*Fiscally responsible within the Annual Budget for all 8 years. As a small business owner, she has a better grasp of budgeting and the funding mechanism for the township
*Fingerprinting and Background checking service, BCI & FBI system, New Website design for the Township
*No property tax is paid on property owned by Prairie Township
*22 flock cameras were installed in Prairie Township to deter crime in our neighborhoods, and security cameras were installed at the Sports Complex
*Currently working on getting City water to the town of Galloway
*New Gazebo at Firehouse, donated by the Kunz Family
*Worked with developers and the owner of the New Housing development at the Village of Galloway (south and east of the sports complex)
*Donation of Backstops, netting, players' bins, and poles at the Sports Complex
*Community Center awarded by the Red Cross – National Certificate of Merit award for Lifesaving a resident
*Letter of support to the US Dept. of Transportation for Hilliard Rome Road Railroad Separation
*8 Thermal Imaging Cameras for Firefighters
*Public Meeting for Single Trash Hauler – Residents oppose single trash hauler at this time
*Public Meeting for Inah & Gladys residents, to tap into and connect sewer lines to Columbus.
*Order new Medic $328,356.00
*Held Meeting at Norton Middle School with Franklin County Sanitation & News Media regarding Water Issues
*Acquired Summerlyn Easement -Main entrance to Community Center
*3 AED cabinets and machines installed at the Sports Complex, and 1 in the Administration building,
*New flashing light at Beacon Hill/Murray Hill Intersection
*4 Radar Feedback signs
*Purchase of 10 sets of Turnout gear for Firefighters
*Hiring a new Engineering Consulting firm for Prairie Township
*AFG Grant -Diesel exhaust removal system for 2 fire houses
*2 Raven Shot Spotters
*Purchase of new MASK for Firefighters ARA funds
*Develop and update the employee Handbook at the Community Center
*BWC Grant to purchase rescue equipment
*Ohio Ambulance Transport Program Grant
*Held 3 public meetings for Dellinger/Hubbard Road Park (on hold at this time due to purchasing all new park equipment
*SAFER Grant - Hiring 9 new firefighters
*Galloway Baseball Club donation for the Sports Complex
*OMEA -Darby Crossing Project 6145 W Broad Flooding & Draining project
*Hiring of EMS Coordinator
*Meeting with the President of Ohio Health, Doctors Hospital, every quarter /hospital & township updates
*Developed a Commercial Noise Ordinance for Prairie Township & Barking Dog Resolution
*Working on the development of a new Cemetery in Prairie Township
*Meet & Greet with residents monthly at Firehouse
*Strong management of township finances, currently has an AA Bond Rating with Standard and Poors
*Meetings with the Zoning Department weekly, involving field work, ORC updates, permits, variances,
*Engaged with residents and always making herself accessible on social media
Attending the Board of Zoning and the Board of Commission meetings
*Meetings with Fire Chief, Community Center Director, Road Superintendent,
*Meeting every two weeks, Board of Trustees/Public Meeting
*Return 1,395 texts and phone calls to the residents
*Board member of Prairie Township Community Improvement Corporation
*Member of WABA (Westland Area Business Association)
*Volunteer at the Mid-Ohio Market – Food Bank
*Yearly packaging for Samaritan Purse
*Graduate of Franklin County Sheriff’s Citizens Academy
*Serves as The Franklin County Emergency Management Board
*Past board member of the Prairie Township Zoning Commission
As your Trustee, Cathy Schmelzer has a proven track record of making smart financial decisions that have helped the township grow. The Trustees have been able to do more, even as costs have risen, without increasing taxes and while being transparent.
*Check out Prairie Township’s budgets, funding sources, and expenditures on
Ohio Checkbook
https://checkbook.ohio.gov/Townships/Prairie-Township-(Franklin)
2017 - 2021
Panhandling & Solicitors Do Not Knock Resolution
All Lincoln Village Curb and Ramps were replaced for $410,454
Started Meet & Greet with residents monthly at Firehouse
Initiated Contact with Chipotle to come to Prairie Township
Welcomed Allen Scott as the New Fire Chief
Contracted with Grove City for Fire Dispatching and added 1 new Administrative Assistant to the Firehouse
Resolution 15-17 Supporting House Bill 49 Water Passed
Sports Complex Concession Stand $494,439 completion
Hellbranch Multi use Trail / Franklin County Soil and Water
2018 Fire Levy Successfully secured
Hometown Banners inside W Broad Corridor
Public Meeting with Franklin County Commissioners and Franklin County Sanitation regarding water and sewer at Westland High School
Conforming boundaries negotiation started with Columbus
Transitioned and hired a new Administrator for Prairie Township
Transitioned a new Fiscal Officer
ODNR grant $490,000 sports complex
Safe Place Program with Huckleberry House, ModCon, and World Mission Society Church of God.
Franklin County Engineers Murnan Road drainage project
Installed North Grener Speed bumps
Road Improvement’s $263,888.
New Fire Engine $560,000.
Statehouse recognition 200-year Bicentennial ( see pictures of Prairie Township employee’s and Senator Stephanie Kunze)
Installed Beacon Hill Speed bumps
Homes on the Hill partnership to build two new homes on Evergreen Terrace
Fire FEMA Grant $271,570 in 2019 and $217,016 in 2020.
Tamera Road FEMA Grant Awarded due to being located in a flood zone
BWC Fire Grant $46,564.
New Backhoe $96,306
Roadwork $381,006.
Homes on Hill Contributions $50,000. Each yr.
One Field Grant $1.5 million awarded by ODNR for new turf field specifically designed for children with disabilities at sport complex
Solar Project located in rural area of Prairie Township
Easter Bunny Trail two years in a row
New Prairie Township Trash Program
Three Fire Contract negotiations 2018 & 2022, 2024
Worked with Franklin County Health Department to develop a Rat Program for Prairie Township
Galloway Road widening project in conjunction with housing development for the Sports Complex
Galloway Sports Complex finished phase 1 and is starting phase 2
CARES Act Funding secured allowed for 3 new trucks
Sports Complex Baseball Field Turf $413,099