Meeting Minutes
Date: May 12th 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Deerfield Township Hall
IN ATTENDANCE
Trustees: Charles “Ed” Dean, Tiffany Havens (Chair), Laura Lindberg
Fiscal Officer: Tracey Dean
Assistant Fiscal Officer: Nancy Cowan
Fire Chief: Scott Dean
Special Guests: John Clark and Kali Roberts, Promise of Portage County
Tom McCarty, Prosecuting Attorney for Portage County
CALL TO ORDER
Tiffany Havens called the meeting to order at 6:00. The Pledge of Allegiance began the
meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES/REPORTS
The financials from the March were unanimously approved. Review of the April minutes
will be tabled until the next meeting to give people time to look them over.
COMMUNICATIONS
(Nancy) The Southeast Football Organization wants to hold a fundraiser (night at the
races) for the school. A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to
charge $50 for using the space.
(Ed) The Solid Waste Management District is requesting feedback for their 2026 plan.
The plan is available on their website, where people can offer comments/questions.
(Ed) There is a movement to create a joint fire district. Ed was invited to attend a
meeting in Edinburgh a few weeks ago. The proposal is to join Palmyra, Edinburgh,
Deerfield, Paris, and Charleston. There will be a presentation about this at the June
meeting. There will be a request of $8,000 from each township for a feasibility study, as
well as a list of all equipment. A decision to join will mean surrendering all equipment
and authority to the new entity. Any current levy would cease and be replaced by a
new joint levy (to be voted on). The new entity may or may not retain current staff. Ed
suggested that this become a ballot issue and that any decision to join should be up to
the citizens. We have little information at this point; there will be a closed meeting for
each of the townships once a month. More information can also be gained by
attending Palmyra’s public meeting tomorrow.
PUBLIC COMMENTARY
John Clark and Kali Roberts, Promise of Portage County: (John) Currently, if someone
gets behind on property taxes, the government has the right to take away the property.
This practice is unfair to people going through various hardships, especially as taxes
increase. (Kali) We are advancing an Ohio Constitutional amendment to end property
taxes, already approved by the attorney general (Dave Yost). Project Promise is a
501C4 nonprofit that believes in community service, education reform and outreach,
and legislation reform. We are asking for signatures (phase two) in support of the
amendment, as well as video of personal stories of those negatively impacted by
current practices. We would love to come back and answer your questions; for
example, many people worry about the revenue for schools, fire, and first responders
(this is not an objective). See projectpromiseportage.com for more information.
Tom McCarty, Prosecuting Attorney for Portage County: No public notice was given for
this hearing. Tiffany said that it was the trustees’ understanding that the matter would
be brought forward at this meeting and asked what needs to be done for Tom to
present at the next one. Tom said that the township website should announce the
hearing topic expected at the meeting along with the location, date, and time. The
person who posts the information will need to sign an affidavit as evidence. Ed said that
they will also put it on the electronic sign at the circle. Tom will attend on June 9. There
was a motion (seconded and passed unanimously) to set the hearing for June 9.
DEPA RTMENT UPDATES
Road Department/Maintenance (Ed on behalf of Tim Suderman)
Road Department
We are asking for $75,000 for chip and seal for three miles of roads if funds are
available. Work will prioritize the roads in the worst shape. A motion to allot a maximum
of $75,000 was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.
Fewtown and Bandy roads were paved and paid for last fall, with about $40,000 left
over for chip and seal; however, weather precluded completion of the chip and seal.
This work will be done soon, weather permitting.
The F450 has a problem with the starter/safety switch. Ed made a motion to have it
repaired at Fairway Ford (price is unknown) for a maximum price of $1,000. The motion
was seconded and passed unanimously.
We are still looking at front loader quotes.
Cemeteries
As Memorial Day approaches, there is much to do. We would like to rent a Harley rake
to assist work at the cemeteries and ballfield at a cost of ~$400 for two days. Ed
motioned to fund the rental for $400 unless a cheaper alternative is available (e.g., a
loaner). Jim will donate the use of his skid loader for this work.
The white wood building at Deerfield Cemetery is in bad shape. Lumber, paint, nails,
and calking are needed for repairs, estimated at ~$700. If passed, Ed will ask the
cemetery association for reimbursement. Ed’s motion to pay up to $700 was seconded
and passed unanimously.
Buildings and Grounds
Weather permitting, mulching will be done at the circle this week (previously
approved). The roof there is near completion. We approved a bid for Mike Barringer to
do the work; he has been very responsive to questions/concerns. As part of the bid,
there was an assumption that replacement of unexpected rotten/problematic wood
would be covered by the township. There are photos of such wood that was
discovered, with a cost amounting to $1,380. A motion to allot an additional $1,380 was
made, seconded, and passed unanimously.
The driller has a permit in hand for the well and anticipates beginning in two-three
weeks. Additional expenses for underground boring (cleaner and less disruptive to
driveway, gas lines, etc.) are $2,750; this would include pulling 275ft of 1.25” SDR tubing,
and 275ft of 1.25” conduit. The well driller will credit this expense, built into the original
bid. United Earthworks (a local company) will donate the use of hydro excavating
equipment for this task. The additional expense will need to come from the fire dept.
Ed’s motion to accept the bid for $2,750 (with expected credit from the driller) was
seconded and passed unanimously.
Fire Department (Chief Scott Dean)
For April, we had 33 calls, 22 medicals, 11 fire calls; year-to-date, we are up another 125
calls.
At the last meeting, trustees approved taking truck 14 to get an alignment. While there,
it was discovered that three of the tires had broken belts. The total for all adjustments
was $840. A motion was made to pay the bill, given that an emergency vehicle was
rendered unsafe and needed urgent repair. The motion was seconded and passed
unanimously.
Please come out for the Memorial Day Parade. Lineup is at 8am at the station and step
off is at 9am.
We are planting flowers at the circle this Saturday at 10am if you’d like to help.
New officers who were able to attend were sworn in by Tom McCarty: Todd Bardelli,
Captain/Fire, and James Hubbs, Lieutenant/Fire.
Captain Bardelli talked briefly about the tone of the parade. Sirens were used in the
past in honor the fallen, not as a celebration; we intend to continue this practice.
The fire dept. asked for a jump box, and one was generously donated.
OLD BUSINESS
We planned to hire Mike Craig pending a physical and background check. He passed
both and he began working. Carl Myers also passed a required physical and began
working.
There was a clarification about Tracy’s minutes from the last meeting; there was no
motion for a layoff (the minutes were correct).
There was also discussion about the last meeting’s financials regarding a conflict of
interest. If a relative is being hired; it’s not against the law, but must be disclosed, and
the family member must abstain from discussion and voting regarding the hire. Tiffany
emphasized the duty to citizens to be transparent and ethical. Voting members stated
that they were unaware of who would be subcontracted and would not have voted if
they knew.
NEW BUSINESS
None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and passed at 7:01pm.