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CHAMPION — Township trustees have approved proceeding with a 5.5-mill, five-year safety forces levy on the November ballot to benefit the fire and police departments.
The levy would generate $1.061 million annually.
Trustee Rex Fee said trustees spoke to Weathersfield officials on what they did for passage of their safety forces levy in May.
“I spoke to Weathersfield about their levy because I had some concerns at first. They told me it has worked out well in Weathersfield,” Fee said.
Officials said the second reading on the motion is set for the July 10 meeting after the county auditor certifies the millage. Deadline to get an issue on the November ballot is early August.
Police Chief Larry Skaggs said the funds from the levy will benefit both the police and fire departments. Officials said the money will be used for fire and police equipment and apparatus and buildings, and personnel in both departments.
Skaggs and fire Chief Tom Dempsey said both departments are seeing increases in calls and more staff leaving for other better paying jobs.
Dempsey said the fire department has been working with a skeleton crew.
In 2022, the fire department ran 2,437 calls, with Dempsey saying those numbers are expected to be surpassed this year.
Skaggs said for the amount of calls the police department receives, at least one more full-time officer, and possibly two, are needed. In 2022, the police department responded to 4,317 calls. He predicts calls will be up by 2,500 by end of the year.
Also, trustees recently heard from residents Tom Hart and Rich Dearth, both with the park committee, on the need to look at a park levy in the future, possibly May 2024.
Fee said he will meet July 6 with the park committee to look at their needs.
“I want to hear their visions and ideas for the park. They have been reviewing the study done by Baker, Bednar and Snyder on plans for the property,” Fee said.
He said the township has a park by the former Champion Central Elementary property off state Route 45 and also plans for a park between the cemetery and the school complex property.