Trustee Meeting – September 12, 2022
The Board of Deerfield Township Trustees met in regular session on Monday, September 12, 2022, at 6:00pm, with Trustees Tiffany Havens, Ed Dean and Mark Bann present. Chairman Bann opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Ed moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the previous meeting held August 8, 2022 and approve them as written. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous. Tiffany moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the special meeting held August 22, 2022 and approve them as written. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Ms. Havens Mr. Bann Mr. Dean
Yes
Yes
Abstained – Since Absent
Ed moved to approve the August financials as presented. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Communications:
- Steve Demetriou, candidate for Ohio House sent a thank you for giving him the opportunity to speak at our previous meeting.
- NOPEC sent notification to temporarily automatically transfer currently enrolled electric customers in the Standard Price Program Price option back to the utility default service for the remainder of this year into the Spring of 2023 so that they can take advantage of significantly lower pricing until the market stabilizes. This effects several Deerfield Township residents.
- Portage County Health District requested to hold a Community Flu Clinic (and COVID) at the Deerfield Township Town Hall on Wednesday, October 18, 2022 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. Ed made a motion to allow use of the township hall to host this clinic. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.Fire Department: Chief Vaughn Sutcliffe provided a verbal report for the fire department on activity since the last meeting. The fire department is up to approximately 401 runs for the year, with 66 ran since the last meeting, which includes 43 EMS calls, 1 fire, 4 motor vehicle accidents, 11 mutual aids, 1 public assist, 1 road hazard, 1 burning complaint and 4 miscellaneous.Deerfield Fire Department has been in contact with Tim Stropki regarding installation of a dry hydrant on his property located at 99 State Route 14 in North Benton. Vaughn has it marked out on waiting on signatures for the easement.
1
Resolution No. 22-19
Mark Bann moved to adopt a resolution to approve the dry hydrant easement with Tim Stropki located at 99 State Route 14, North Benton, Ohio 44449 pending signatures. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Bann Yes Mr. Dean Yes Ms. Havens Yes
Adopted: September 12, 2022
Mark made a motion to enter into a dispatch service agreement with the City of Ravenna, Ohio at a cost of $18,876.40 per year for the period January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous. No per call charge as in years past.
Unit No. 1411, the ambulance has a vibration from the rear end. Deerfield Township has received an estimate for $1,200 & still waiting for a 2nd estimate. The brakes have been replaced.
Unit No. 1413, the pumper, all repairs have been finished.
Deerfield Fire Department is in the process of painting the front sign at the station.
The eye on the front security camera light needs replaced.
We need to get a status of the septic for Portage Septic.
Lieutenant Derick McCoy turned in his letter of retirement/resignation. He has been with the department since March 1998, just over 24 years.
Two applications for membership were received. Interviews will be scheduled in the upcoming weeks.
Six (6) members are signed up to attend training at Warren County Fire Training Facility.
Deerfield Township Fire Department was awarded the FY 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant in the amount of $115,631. The grant monies are intended to be used on replacement of the self-contained breathing apparatus. Equipment being used currently is out of date and was purchased in 2007.
Deerfield Fire Association purchased some hand tools, battery operated grinder, cutting tools and rope bags for the boat.
MARCS radios are all in service. However, they are still dispatching on old VHF frequency, but all other traffic is on the new system.
2
Mark made a motion to schedule trunk or treat October 30, 2022 at the Deerfield Town Hall from 4pm to 7pm. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Deerfield Fire Department will be assisting Deerfield Friends Church with their Fall Festival held Saturday, September 24, 2022 from noon to 4pm. Deerfield Fire Department will be doing touch a truck for the kids. Admission is free. They will have live music, kids games, activities, bounce house, free food, craft show, bake sale, face painting and raffle baskets.
Deerfield Fire Department will be set up at the Deerfield Applebutter Festival October 8, 2022.
Vaughn provided member hours worked to Deerfield Township Trustees for 2022.
Vaughn provided the Deerfield Township Trustees with a list of the members of the Fire Department who has received a MARCS radios.
Vaughn and the Trustees discussed requiring each working nonresident member to complete one (1) shift per month at the station.
Road Department: The Road Department has been working on getting asphalt down on Fewtown & Bandy Road. Ditching has been completed as requested by residents.
Ed made a motion to purchase 100 ton of #8 slag for future road projects at $30/ton. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Resolution No. 22-20
Ed Dean moved to adopt a resolution to deem the 1997 Lo Pro no longer of value or use to Deerfield Township. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes Ms. Havens Yes
Adopted: September 12, 2022
Resolution No. 22-21
Ed Dean moved to adopt a resolution to take the 1997 Lo Pro to the Edinburg Auction to be sold via auction in October 2022. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Mr. Bann Ms. Havens
Adopted: September 12, 2022
Yes Yes Yes
3
The Road Department has a couple hundred signs to put up. They are working on getting quotes to rent or purchase a post driver or inquire about borrowing from a neighboring township. Portage County Engineers surveyed all the signs needed and received. Signs were paid for 100% by a grant.
Deerfield Township has received two (2) quotations for the parking lot to seal coat and stripe, one from Everbrite, Inc. and the other from Perrin. The Township intends to receive one more quotation.
Cemeteries:
Forty-Five to Fifty trees have been removed. One (1) tree remains to be cut down at Hartzell Cemetery due to having a significant amount of bees. They will cut $900 off of the bill and come out at a later date to complete.
Deerfield Township has received two (2) quotes from Deerfield residents for stump removal. The first quotation was from Leask in the amount of $2,160. The second quotation was from Jack Hopkins in the amount of $1,470. Ed made a motion to hire Jack Hopkins to perform the stump grinding at a cost of $1,470. Tiffany seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Buildings & Grounds:
The field by the Deerfield Town Hall has been disc’d by the Road Department employees with personal equipment. The Trustees thanked them as well as Deerfield Farms for the land plane work they did for us.
New Business: A Deerfield resident inquired about roadside mowing. The Trustees indicated roadside mowing will be completed one more time once asphalt is completed.
Frank Voss attended the meeting to discuss Project Promise they formed approximately 1 1⁄2 years ago to benefit Portage County. The next project is Breaking Chains, a Human Trafficking Awareness Town Hall. An event will be held on October 11, 2022 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm at either the W. Main Winery or Maplewood. The event is free and can be reserved via the website at www.projectpromiseportage.com.
The Deerfield Civic Association intends to hold a Festival of Lights event, giving tree and decorate the Deerfield Circle with lights.
The following bills were presented for Trustees’ inspection and approval: See Payment Register attached.
Mark made a motion to pay these bills and adjourn the meeting. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.