Disclaimer: Video links are posted as a courtesy to our residents and are not owned by Deerfield Township. Videos are recorded by a third party. Be advised that the official meeting minutes are recorded by our Fiscal Officer and approved by the Board of Trustees. These minutes are posted below for your convenience and may be obtained by request from our Fiscal Officer.
The Board of Deerfield Township Trustees met in regular session on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 6:00pm, with Trustees Ed Dean and Mark Bann present. Chairman Dean opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mark moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the previous work session held Au- gust 28, 2023 at 5pm and approve them as written. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Mark moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the last regular Trustee meeting held August 28, 2023 and approve them as written. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Ed moved to approve the August financials as presented. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Communications:
The Berlin Lake Ranger staff is looking to host a trunk or treat sometime in October at their Maplewood loop of the Mill Creek Campground on Bedell Road. They inquired about any local trunk or treats in Berlin Center or Deerfield to plan around so they did not overlap their events. They are also open to co-hosting an event if the Fire Department or Township would like to help at the event. They hope to build this event in the upcoming years.
Resolution No. 23-15
Ed Dean moved to adopt a resolution accepting the tax rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor:
RESOLVED, By the Board of Trustees of Deerfield Township, Portage County, Ohio, in accordance with the provisions of law has previously adopted a Tax Budget for the next succeeding fiscal year commencing January 1, 2024; and
WHEREAS, The Budget Commission of Portage County, Ohio, has certified its action thereon to this Board together with an estimate by the County Auditor of the rate of each tax necessary to be levied by this Board, and what part thereof is without, and what part within, the ten mill tax limitation; therefore be it
RESOLVED, By the Board of Trustees of Deerfield Township, Portage County, Ohio, that the amounts and rates, as determined by the Budget Commission in its certification, be and the same are hereby accepted; and be it further
RESOLVED, That there be and is hereby levied on the tax duplicate of said Township the rate of each tax necessary to be levied within and without the ten mill limitation as follows:
General Fund – Amount Approved By Budget Commission Inside 10 Mill Limit-73,484 County Auditor’s Estimate of Tax Rate to be Levied Inside 10 Mill Limit – 0.90
Road & Bridge – Amount Approved By Budget Commission Inside 10 Mill Limit-81,649 County Auditor’s Estimate of Tax Rate to be Levied Inside 10 Mill Limit – 1.00
Special Fire Protection Levy – Amount to be Derived from Levies Outside 10 Mill Limit-143,134 County Auditor’s Estimate of Tax Rate to be Levied Inside 10 Mill Limit – 2.50
Special Fire & EMS Levy – Amount to be Derived from Levies Outside 10 Mill Limit-110,576 County Auditor’s Estimate of Tax Rate to be Levied Inside 10 Mill Limit – 1.75
Levies Outside 10 Mill Limitation:
Fire Protection Voted 11-03-2020 for 5 Years Fire & EMS Voted 11-02-2021 for 5 Years
And be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of this Board be and is hereby directed to certify that a copy of this Resolution to the County Auditor of said County.
Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Dean Yes
Mr. Bann Yes
Adopted: September 11, 2023
Fire Department:
Chief Dean provided a verbal report on activity since the last meeting. The fire department had 33 medical calls, 2 fire calls, 8 service calls, 4 motor vehicle accidents, 9 mutual aids given and 13 mutual aids received. Total calls to date are 354 calls.
The station fax machine is out of service. Ed made a motion to give the fire department the fax machine on hand. If this machine is not a usable machine, Ed approved to purchase a new fax machine for the Fire Department. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Ed made a motion to allow the Fire Department to create a shower if the water is good to use. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
The engine goes into K&D for service on Wednesday. The new time clock will be in place on October 1, 2023.
Resolution No. 23-16
Ed moved to adopt a resolution no. 23-16 to approve the Fire Department Policies and Procedures as provided by Mr. Scott Dean. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Adopted: September 11, 2023
Fire school started yesterday and is going excellent.
Ed made a motion to approve $941.28 for the payment of the timeclock. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Road Department: The Road Department Steiner is in for repair for a broken cable at Unkefer. The dump truck is being repaired.
Ed made a motion to purchase a load of 304 to keep on hand. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Ed made a motion to purchase a load of topsoil from Pegs Excavating. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
The road side mower was hit about two (2) months ago. The insurance company has been arguing and going back and forth with us. The at fault insurance company is offering $6k more than our insurance company and will leave the broken mower with us. Ed made a motion to accept $21,900 from Erie Insurance for our road side mower as opposed to the $15,800 offered by OTARMA. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Palmyra Township may come down and do one pass for us if approved at their next meeting. Ed made a motion to contract out the road side mowing to a third party at the accepted price by the insurance company approval for two (2) passes. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
We have some work to do to get ready to patch, chip and seal. Neighboring townships may be willing to assist us.
Buildings & Grounds/Cemeteries: New siding has been put on the building.
The blueprints have been turned into the Building Department for the pavilion donated by the Civic Association. Have hopes that it will be completed by the Applebutter Festival. The gas lines have been located for placement of the pavilion.
The buildings have been painted to match the others.
Ed made a motion to pay up to $650 for footer work that needs done at cemetery. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
New Business: Ed made a motion to hold Trunk or Treat on October 28th ,2023 from 4:00pm- 6:00pm. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Ed made a motion to hold Truck or Treat on October 26, 2024 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Kay Anderson, Tracey Dean, Ed Dean, Bob Brown and Mark Hannaford have all helped weedeat and clean-up for Deerfield Township. Gary has been helping out and Buddy has been mowing. Ed thanked everyone for their help.
Ed made a motion to change the time for the special meeting scheduled to 2pm on September 18, 2023 from 6pm. Mark seconded the motion and the roll vote was unanimous.
The More Grant of $500 has not yet been used for the year through OTARMA.
A resident inquired if the Fire Department #5222 is still in working order for emergencies. Scott Dean indicated that number or 911 can be called.
Revenues received: See Revenue Receipt Register attached.
The following bills were presented for Trustees’ inspection and approval: See Payment Register attached.
Ed made a motion to pay these bills and adjourn the meeting. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was unanimous.
Meeting adjourned at 6:27pm.