To amend section 5571.01 of the Revised Code to authorize a board of township trustees to enter into a contract with one or more other boards of township trustees to obtain or provide road construction or maintenance services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Sec. 5571.01. (A) The board of township trustees may construct, reconstruct, resurface, or improve any public road, or part thereof OF ANY PUBLIC ROAD, under its jurisdiction or any county road, intercounty highway, or state highway within its township. In the case of a county road, the plans and specifications for the proposed improvement shall first be submitted to the board of county commissioners of the county and receive its approval, and in the case of an intercounty or state highway, plans and specifications shall first be submitted to the director of transportation and receive his THE DIRECTOR'S approval. The board of township trustees may widen, straighten, or change the direction of any part of a road in connection with the proceedings for its improvement.

(B) The board of township trustees may construct, improve, maintain, or repair the berm of any road under its jurisdiction, in order to provide a hard surface or other improved approach to rural mail boxes located on public highways.

(C) No contract for the construction or repair of a bridge, the entire cost of which construction or repair exceeds fifty thousand dollars, shall be entered into by the township unless the plans are first approved by the director.

(D)(1) IN ORDER TO OBTAIN OR PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN CARRYING OUT DIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION AND IN MAINTAINING AND REPAIRING ROADS, ANY BOARD OF TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES MAY ENTER INTO A CONTRACT, UNDER TERMS THE BOARD AGREES TO, WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER BOARDS OF TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES TO OBTAIN OR PROVIDE ROAD CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, RESURFACING, IMPROVEMENT, MAINTENANCE, OR REPAIR SERVICES. THE CONTRACT MAY PROVIDE FOR A FIXED ANNUAL CHARGE TO BE PAID AT TIMES AGREED UPON AND STIPULATED IN THE CONTRACT. THE COST OF THE CONTRACT MAY BE PAID FROM THE TOWNSHIP GENERAL FUND OR FROM THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR FUND ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 5575.10 of the Revised Code.

(2) CHAPTER 2744. of the Revised Code, INSOFAR AS IT APPLIES TO THE PROVISION OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, RESURFACING, IMPROVEMENT, MAINTENANCE, OR REPAIR SERVICES, APPLIES TO A TOWNSHIP THAT HAS ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT UNDER DIVISION (D)(1) OF THIS SECTION, AND TO THAT TOWNSHIP'S EMPLOYEES, WHEN THE EMPLOYEES ARE RENDERING THESE SERVICES OUTSIDE THE TOWNSHIP UNDER THAT CONTRACT.

(3) TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES ACTING OUTSIDE THE TOWNSHIP THAT EMPLOYS THEM UNDER A CONTRACT THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS ENTERED INTO UNDER DIVISION (D)(1) OF THIS SECTION MAY PARTICIPATE IN ANY PENSION OR INDEMNITY FUND THAT THEIR EMPLOYER ESTABLISHES AND ARE ENTITLED TO ALL RIGHTS AND BENEFITS OF CHAPTER 4123. of the Revised Code, TO THE SAME EXTENT AS WHEN PERFORMING SERVICES WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP THAT EMPLOYS THEM.