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Mecca reviews options after levy defeat

MECCA — With the defeat this month of a 1-mill five-year general fund operating levy, township officials are reviewing what option to take with finances as they await the results of state audits being completed for 2016 and 2017.

Township trustees at their monthly meeting said the new levy would have generated around $46,000 for general fund needs for various departments, including roads and parks.

Officials estimated the owner of a $100,000 home would have paid less than $50 a year.

Fiscal officer Jennifer Mancini said Perry and Associates are finalizing audits for the past two years, which are expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Trustee Fritz Birkhimer said the township will review the audits to see how the township stands financially.

“Over the last 10 years, we have lost about 50 percent of our local government funds. Sooner or later something has got to change,” Birkhimer said.

The township has lost almost $30,000 in local government money, he said, having received $56,000 in 2008, and about $28,000 this year.

“The levy money would have helped our general fund, which is receiving less state money,” Birkhimer said.

Mancini and Birkhimer said it costs $5,000 to put the levy on the ballot, so it will likely not appear before voters in the spring.

The township’s finances had to be redone since they were determined to be unauditable by the state auditor’s office when former fiscal officer Debbie Drawl was in office. Perry and Associates was hired to get the books in order so they could be audited.

An appeal filed by Drawl on being removed from her position was denied last month by the 11th District Court of Appeals.

Drawl began her term as township fiscal officer in April 2016 and was removed from the elected position Feb. 1 by Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Andrew D. Logan.

Drawl was accused of keeping books that were unauditable because of incomplete information, adding seemingly random numbers to “plug” the budget and failing to get the books straight after several opportunities.

Township trustees, as well as about 20 residents, last year signed affidavits to have Drawl removed from office, claiming she was not doing her job.

In other business, trustees:

• Entered into a renewed contract for $30,000 with the city of Cortland for its fire department to provide emergency medical service to the township;

• Reported the tornado warning siren on Morrell Ray Road was installed so residents on the western side of Mosquito Lake are able to hear the warning;

• Reported King Brothers, Storm Services Solutions and Buckeye Bulk contributed and donated to the new $225 electronic scoreboard at the ballfield, which covered cement, post and sign costs;

• Reported work was done by Cortland Auto at $2,500 on the fire squad;

• Reported a 4-by-8 steel plate was placed as a cover over a large sinkhole at Housel Craft Road and Lakeview Drive;

• Purchased a backhoe from McCullough Equipment for $30,500;

• Announced the fire department is seeking a Federal Emergency Management grant with other townships for 19 new MARCS radios, which allow communication with like radio systems throughout the state. The township will pay $4,700 — 10 percent of the total cost of $47,000;

• Approved creation of a special park fund for donations designated for the park.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com

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