By Ashley McCarty

In this weeks edition of “Unsung Heroes,” we explore the role of the Township Trustee with Sam Bolender and Jason Hupp of Scott Township and Quintin Baker of Oliver Township.
While there are a plethora of responsibilities a trustee has, the main duties of a township trustee are to maintain roads and cemeteries, which includes making sure gravesites are properly marked, and the governing and assisting of local fire departments. Trustees also have to meet five times a year.
Bolender has been a township trustee for a longstanding 23 years, and has been the President of the County Association for 12.
When Bolender first chose to run for trustee, he wanted to help with community betterment for his township – that desire has never wavered years after.
For Bolender, his trustee duties take up about 10 hours of his week, dependent on cemetery duties, with his compensation being $8,400 a year.
“The graves are hard to find, sometimes, because we have some sections that are from the 1800s,” said Bolender of the difficulties of his job.
In his 23 years of being a trustee, he reports he’s only received two common complaints from his township.
“In my township, in my 23 years, we’ve had two groups of people that show up. One of them complains about the roads, the other ones complain about the cemetery,” said Bolender.
Bolender has since retired from his regular job, but does carpentry and auctioeering on the side. He has been an auctioneer since 1989.
“[I’m] thankful, really, to be a part of the community and to support it. Like I said, this is my 23rd year. I have to run next year, if I decide too. I’ll be 70 next year if I do decide to run, but, I’m just glad to be able to help and put my knowledge towards the township to better it,” said Bolender.
Hupp, also of Scott Township, ran for trustee from a desire to make a change in his community.
“We have a meeting once a month, and it varies. We’re really fortunate with the guys that do some of the work for us, that if there’s an issue — because all three of us work right now — so if there’s an issue, Robbie Blythe is good about going out and getting stuff done. I can’t imagine — the other night we were going to a volleyball game and I had a guy call and I spent out a half an hour going out and picking up trash. It’s a very time consuming thing. We’re fortunate to have good help, though,” said Hupp.
Hupp receives $10,000 a year for his compensation, and will be a trustee for going on three years now.
“I’ve only been a trustee for three years — well, this is my third year — so, I feel like I’m still learning, really,” said Hupp. Hupp said that being a trustee has opened him up to getting to know more people, and gain a lot of new friends.
Hupp admits that the most difficult part of being a trustee is making everyone happy.
“When we do our roads and stuff, we don’t want somebody to feel left out on the roads. There is issues, for instance, we deal with some roads that are more traveled, so we spend a little bit more money on them as opposed to some of the roads that are not as well traveled. We keep them up, though,” said Hupp.
In the years to come, if feasible, Hupp hopes to start blacktopping one or two roads a year.
“The roads [are really our only complaint.] Sometimes we’ll get some calls — we got a few roads that if it rains, it washes some [debris] out on the roads — that’s really about it. Like this year, I don’t know other than like the other day, just [fulfilling] that call with picking up four bags of trash, we don’t really get a lot of complaints from our township area. I feel like we do a really good job,” said Hupp.
When not being a trustee, Hupp is a rural carrier for the United States Postal Service in West Union.
Baker said his motivation to run for trustee was to help out his community.
“Trying to be a spokesman for all of your residents would be a major difficulty, because everybody thinks something different. Similar, but different,” said Baker.
The roads and taxes were the biggest complaints he has received.
“People don’t like either,” said Baker with a laugh. For compensation, Baker makes the same amount as Bolender, at $8,400 a year.
“People think you can get rich being a trustee, but you can’t,” said Baker.
Baker is a field operator for Adams County Regional Water District.
“I’d like to thank everybody who pitches in to help. Without them, the three trustees and the fiscal officer wouldn’t be as efficient. There’s people that — you’ll be out on the road, we’ve got two workers — and we’ll be out working, and people will pitch in with their equipment, their time. It’s amazing when the community comes together,” said Baker.