Trustee Meeting – October 10, 2022
The Board of Deerfield Township Trustees met in regular session on Monday, October 10, 2022, at 6:00pm, with Trustees 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 September 12, 2022 and approve them as written. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Ed moved to approve the September financials as presented. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Communications:
- The Board of Elections of Portage County, Ohio notified Deerfield Township of the general election to be held at the Deerfield Township Town Hall Tuesday, November 8, 2022, open from 6:30am to 7:30pm for voting.
- East 2022 Township pool sent request to Deerfield Township for approval or non- approval of Charles E. Harris & Associates to perform audit services for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2026. Mark made a motion to approve Charles E. Harris & Associates to perform Deerfield Township’s audit for the period January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2026. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann YesResolution No. 22-22
Tax Amounts and Rates: Mark Bann moved to adopt Resolution No. 22-22, thereby, to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the Portage County Budget Commission for the year beginning January 1, 2023, and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the Portage County Auditor. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:Mr. Bann Yes Mr. Dean YesAdopted: October 10, 2022
Matt Kelly, candidate for Portage County Auditor attended the meeting to introduce himself, provide his background and ask for support.
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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 427 runs for the year, with 27 ran since the last meeting, which includes 16 EMS calls, 1 fire, 2 motor vehicle accidents, 6 mutual aids, 1 public assist and 1 burning complaint.
Mitchell Graf, member of the Deerfield Fire Department has been promoted to the EMS Coordinator. His duties include ordering equipment, EMS tracking, review run reports, EMS training coordination and keeping track of all EMS certifications.
Unit #1411, the ambulance still has a vibration from the rear end. One estimate has been received in the amount of $1,200. Another shop felt that the estimate we were provided will not resolve our issues. Vaughn will discuss returning the ambulance to the shop with Tim Suderman.
Security light on the front of the building has been repaired. The gas line leak on furnace in station watch office has been repaired.
Vaughn requested by the Trustees to allow him to make an appointment with White Refrigeration to service the furnace for winter. The trustees agreed.
Chelsea Harris turned in her letter of resignation & Vaughn read it aloud. She joined the department February 2013. Vaughn thanked her for her nine (9) years of dedicated service to our community.
Leslie Hafler submitted a fire department application & attended the meeting. She is an EMT & will be helping with station coverage. Vaughn has asked her to be available for a minimum of two (2) shifts per month. She has experience with Akron Children’s Hospital. Ed made a motion to accept her application with a one (1) year probationary period. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Breanna Westover submitted a fire department application & attended the meeting. Her family grew up in Deerfield Township. She would like to start out as a volunteer and is prepared to take her EMT and fire course this upcoming winter. She currently has her BLS & CPR certifications. Ed made a motion to accept her application with a one (1) year probationary period. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Brian Kelderhouse and Nick Zerkle passed their Public Safety Diver Class. Deerfield Township now has four (4) divers along with the necessary equipment.
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Three (3) members are attending an 80 hour fire inspectors class. All three (3) members are top responders and very active with the department.
Lindsay Davis would like to attend Fire Inspectors Class at a cost of $435.33. Atwater has agreed to pay for half. Vaughn is requesting Deerfield Trustees approve paying for the other half. Upon completion, she will work for both Deerfield and Atwater Townships. Ed made a motion to pay for 1⁄2 of Lindsay’s cost fees. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Zachary Fryn and Mitch Graf also plan to attend the Fire Inspectors Class. Berlin Township has agreed to pay for their class fees. Vaughn is requesting the Deerfield Trustees approve reimbursement for the cost of their books at a cost of $257.82 each. Ed made a motion to approve reimbursement as requested. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
The Leary Firefighter Foundation Grant was submitted for a new battery-operated jaws of life at a total cost of $13,420. The Deerfield Fire is also raising money per requirement of the grant via the Chili Cook-Off scheduled for November 6, 2022.
Mark made a motion to okay the payment of $631.00 to Medicare CGS Revalidation in order to bill them. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Bann Yes Mr. Dean Yes
Mark made a motion to pay Striker for the cot in the amount of $564.44. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Bann Yes Mr. Dean Yes
Mark made a motion to pay Gatchell Grant Resources $3,500 for the 2021 AFG Grant, of which will later be reimbursed through the grant. Ed seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Bann Yes Mr. Dean Yes
Vaughn turned in a bill for the Post Office Box in the amount of $170/year.
The Fire members are in the process of looking at self-contained breathing apparatus for the grant received. They must look at three (3) different manufacturers per grant requirement.
Deerfield Fire attended the Deerfield Applebutter Festival & met a lot of new people. 3
Deerfield Fire will participate in Trunk or Treat October 30, 2022 from 4pm to 7pm at the Deerfield Town Hall. Chief Sutcliffe welcomed community members to bring treats to hand out.
The Chili Cook-Off will be held November 6, 2022 from 1pm to 4pm at the Deerfield Town Hall. All community members are welcome to bring chili and participate in the contest to be judged. Chili needs to be at the Town Hall between Noon – 12:30pm.
Road Department: Ed made a motion to approve two (2) loads of 411 stone and one (1) load of 304 stone. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Roadside mowing is in process.
The Road Department has a few culverts to replace. Homeowners pay for the materials and the road department puts them in. The Road Department is low on pipe to have on- hand. Ed made a motion to purchase pipe at a cost of approximately $1,000 to have in stock at the shop. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Deerfield Township received a grant to replace approximately 700 new signs. The Engineers did an assessment everywhere a sign is needed. Ed made a motion to purchase an electronic post pounder at a cost of approximately $3,300.00 out of the ARPA funds. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Buildings & Grounds: Ed made a motion to make some repairs at a cost up to $4,000 on the concession building at the ballfields out of the ARPA funds. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
The parking lot needs sealed and striped before winter. Deerfield Township received bids from Everbrite at a cost of $10,200, Perrin Asphalt at a cost of $7,500 and Skibiski at a cost of $7,400. Ed made a motion to hire Skibiski at a cost of $7,400 and pay for this improvement out of the ARPA funds. Mark seconded the motion and the roll call vote was as follows:
Mr. Dean Yes Mr. Bann Yes
Cemeteries: Trees were removed from the cemeteries.
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New Business: No Report.
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 as follows:
Mr. Bann Mr. Dean
Meeting adjourned at 6:33pm.
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Yes Yes
______________________________ Chairman
______________________________ Fiscal Officer