While Liberty Township officials were celebrating a road levy passage, Bazetta was looking at a road levy defeat.

Officials in Hubbard Township were not sure what to say as the police levy was defeated by only 17 votes.

In Liberty, incomplete and unofficial results from the Trumbull County Board of Elections had a 2.5 mill 12-year road replacement levy passing 53 percent for the levy to 47 percent against.

Liberty Trustee Arnie Clebone said he credits a lot of hard work educating the public on the needs of having funds for improving the roads.

“We came up with a viable plan and told the public exactly what that plan was. The public recognized that need. We are elated with the results,” he said.

Clebone said the township had obtained loans and grants as well and plans for $1.7 million in road improvements for next year.

With passage, the township would be allowed to take advantage of state money now. Trustees will be able to apply for a $75,000 state grant and a zero percent interest $1.625 million loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission.

The levy would raise $517,500 annually to pave more than 30 miles of township roads

Trustee Greg Cizmar said roads need to get done. “Everyone will benefit with improved roads” Cizmar said.

In Bazetta, a 3-mill five-year additional road levy was defeated with 54 percent of the vote against and 46 percent in favor.

The levy would have raised about $425,000 per year, or $2.1 million over five years.

Trustee Ted Webb said he was disappointed by the results, which limit greatly what the township can do for the roads.

“The residents have spoken. They are happy with the condition of the roads. What we will be able to do for the roads now will be the bare minimum,” he said.

Webb said likely it will be only chip and tar work.

“We will do what we can,” he said, noting Millenial Boulevard, which leads to Walmart and is heavily-traveled, will only get chip and tar work.

He said 54 percent of the roads have not been paved in the last 15 years.

“We tried our best to show the need for the levy. We will do what we can with what we have,” he said, adding it’s likely trustees will not put an issue on the next ballot.

In Hubbard Township, a 3.5-mill additional continuing police protection and emergency medical service levy was defeated by 17 votes as 50.3 percent of voters were against the levy and 49.6 percent voted for passage.

Trustee Rick Hernandez said the close numbers made him wonder if a recount or absentee ballots may change the results.

“I am surprised it is that close. I am cautiously optimistic and keeping my fingers crossed it may still pass,” he said, adding it is important to provide police and other safety protection.

The township has a 1.75-mill levy that is expiring Dec. 31, and Hernandez said the extra funds are needed to maintain 10 full-time and seven part-time police officers, as well as pay for rising insurance costs.

In Austintown, a 3.2 mill continuing levy, which includes a 2.4-mill replacement levy plus an additional 0.8 mills, for police protection, was passed. The levy would generate approximately $900,000 annually.

Austintown Township Administrator Michael Dockry had expressed the importance of a well-staffed police department, voicing concerns over outdated technology, old vehicles and the dip into the general fund in 2017 for about $700,000 to cover expenses.

The department has 40 full-time officers, Dockry said.

Other incomplete and unofficial election results are:

• In Bloomfield a five-year, 0.7-mill replacement levy for current expenses passed 62 percent for and 38 percent against. The levy would generate $14,731;

• In Farmington, a continuing, 2.5-mill additional levy for roads that would generate $94,485 per year was defeated 56 percent against to 44 percent for.

• In Mecca, a five-year, 1-mill additional levy for current expenses that would raise $44,966 annually was defeated 55 percent against to 45 percent for.

• In Southington, a continuing, 1-mill additional levy for fire and emergency medical services that would generate $65,652 annually passed 60 percent for and 40 percent against.