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MADISON TOWNSHIP – The Board of Trustees passed a resolution to place a replacement 3.9-mill permanent levy on the May 7 ballot for Madison Township Police Department operations at the Jan. 22 meeting.

The new levy would replace a current 1.9-mill permanent levy approved in 1982 and a 2.0-mill permanent levy approved in 1994.
“It’s something we need to do to give the Police Department more stability,” Trustee Pete Wayman said. “You heard the reports this evening; they’re running short constantly, so this will help us out quite a bit if we do this levy.”
Board of Trustees Chair Ken Gauntner noted the millage is staying the same because it would eliminate the two current levies.
He explained how Ohio law (House Bill 920 passed in 1976) states a levy may not collect more than the initial total amount stated when it is passed. So, as property values go up, no additional taxes are collected and the effective millage rate decreases.
“This will give us more revenue that we desperately need,” he said. “Even though there was a reappraisal by the county auditor this past year … it only increased the police revenue by … ($30,000 to $40,000 according to the fiscal officer).”
Gauntner said the additional revenue only comes from new construction in the community.
He said passage of the levy would permit the Police Department to maintain the current level of service, adding the levy which passed in 2016 was just a renewal and did not bring in any additional revenue.

In other business:
• Lt. Elizabeth Kirk provided the police stats for the year 2018, noting there were 11,909 calls for service generating 1,876 incident reports which included 284 crashes, 391 citations and 626 arrests. She also gave a three-year report on accidents by Walmart at Green Road, Green Road in the vicinity of Walmart, and Route 20 and Green Road.
“In 2016 the numbers were seven, seven and 15,” she said, adding the numbers did not change much the next two years.
Gauntner stated residents comment on social media that accidents are increasing there, but they are not.
• The trustees passed a resolution to establish a credit card policy which complies with new provisions of the Ohio Revised Code.
• Service Department Supervisor Paul Cook gave his report on departmental activities and plowing and salt usage during the recent snowfalls.
Gauntner said most people were complimentary about the maintenance of the roads on social media, but some complained that roads were not completely salted.
He said they only salt intersections, curves and hills because they could not afford to do all roads, and because the salt is not good for the environment or the roads. That has been the policy since the 1980s.
• Trustees set a re-zoning public hearing for permanent parcel #01-A-076-0-00-012-0 from an R-4 to an A-1.
The hearing was set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12.
• Administrator Tim Brown requested a Records Commission public meeting be set for 5:45 p.m. Tuesday Feb. 12 to review old records to be shredded since they are unneeded.
He said NOPEC notified him that the Township would receive another Energized Community Grant for $47,362, with the balance of $31,308 to be carried over from last year as well. A good portion is to be used for new HVAC units at Stanton Park.
Regarding the restrooms at Stanton Park, Brown said the concrete was poured and sealed, electric was done, cabinets were to be installed soon and tile work has begun. He hopes they will be done by March at the latest.
• Trustees passed the following resolutions:
Approving an agreement between the Board of Madison Township Trustees and the Grand River Kennel Club for the use of Bill Stanton Park to conduct an AKC All-Breed Dog Show.
Approving an agreement between the Board of Madison Township Trustees and the Sugarbush Kennel Club for the use of Stanton Park in 2019 to conduct an AKC All-Breed Dog Show.
To renew the annual property, casualty, automobile and liability insurance coverage with the Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority (OTARMA); effective Feb. 1, 2019 through Jan. 31, 2020.
Peter Richmond from Richmond & Richmond Insurance gave a presentation.
• Gauntner said the Fire Board is working on refinancing the main fire station at a fixed rate, which should save about $400,000 or more.
The Fire District also needs a new fire truck which would take 18 months to come in once ordered.
The trustees stated Fire Chief Tod Baker had been doing a good job and had “turned the department around.”
• The trustees adjourned to executive session to discuss union negotiations.
• The next regular trustees meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, with a work session preceding at 6 p.m.