LORDSTOWN — Village council on Monday approved establishing an account for the purchase, training and maintenance of a police dog.

Mayor Arno Hill said the account established will be used for any money raised for the dog.

The Lordstown Police Department’s Association is raising funds for the animal. The goal is to raise $25,000 to cover cost of the dog, handler training, care and equipment to upfit a police cruiser for the dog.

Police informed officials donations are being sought to negate the cost from the village’s police budget.

Officer Brett Blank had Newton Falls bring its police dog to a village council meeting to show what the animal does.

In a letter, police Chief Brent Milhoan and Blank explained the dog will be trained in both narcotics and apprehensions, as well as perform vehicle sniffs for officers, track and apprehend criminals, and locate articles and missing people.

Currently the police must request through mutual aid to utilize another agency’s dog, potentially wasting valuable time in removing drugs from the streets, apprehending criminals and locating missing people, they said.

“To have that asset within the village and working with an officer would undoubtedly eliminate wasting precious minutes in finding a member of the community and their loved ones in case of emergency,” the letter states.

Donations for the dog may be sent to: Lordstown Police Department, c/o K9 campaign, 1583 Salt Springs Road, Warren, OH 44481.

Hill said the dog may be available in 2022 or 2023.

In other business, parks / grounds Superintendent Ron Hickox reported someone damaged the Little Library box at the park off Tod Avenue and threw books into a nearby creek.

Hill said it may have been run into with a vehicle.

Council also approved cooperating with the Ohio Department of Transportation for resurfacing Hallock Young Road between Ellsworth Bailey Road and Tod Avenue, including pavement repair, guardrail repair and pavement markings. The cost is $381,218.

Hill said the project will be put out for bids. The village is expected to cover the entire cost.

The area where the improvements will be made is near the Lordstown Motors plant.

In other action, council:

• Approved increasing the pay for part-time summer workers in the street, parks and buildings department from $10 to $13 per hour for the 2022 season. Workers shall not work any more than 28 hours per week and receive no fringe benefits;

• Heard from Kristen Moore of Spectrum Enterprises of how the company can help the village with internet and fiber access connection and service for computers and phones at the village administration, road, park, police and fire buildings. Moore said a new system will help prevent hacks and keep service in tact if one building’s system goes down. Officials said costs would be $2,500 to $5,000;

• Set the end-of-the-year meeting for 6 p.m. Dec. 30.