CHAMPION — Township trustees are looking at funding options such as grants for a community park which officials have been discussing for several years.

Trustees met this week with Julie Green, director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission, to talk over possible Ohio Natureworks grant opportunities for which the township may be eligible.

Green said she understands that the township officials are interested in developing a park and are reviewing possible locations.

“I will wait to see what they want to do and where,” Green said, adding that Trumbull County’s current round has a limited amount of nature works grant monies at $49,000, which makes it competitive for different communities.

She said if the township was to secure funds there would need to be a 25% match.

There is also the option of possible capital budget monies.

Green said the grant application process for the NatureWorks program does take time to put together so trustees need to see if the project they want to move forward with is an eligible activity.

NatureWorks projects are funded through the Ohio Parks and Natural Resources Bond Issue and provide up to 75% reimbursement assistance for local government subdivisions.

Trustees are looking at the scope of the park project and what they want to do to apply for certain grants.

According to officials, years ago there was a community initiative to get a park established with different locations and options discussed.

Trustee Chairman Doug Emerine said if a park is what residents want there will need to be some type of levy to cover the costs for maintaining it.

He said currently trustees are addressing safety services first with a police levy placed on the May primary ballot to generate funds for day-to-day needs of the department.

Trustees said in the future a park levy could be placed on the ballot to see if residents would support it.

Emerine said if residents support a levy it will show there is interest in a park. If support isn’t generated, then it would be the end of the park effort.

Fiscal Officer Laurie-Jo Miller said there is $52,000 that was collected over the years which could be used for a matching grant of the same amount for a park.

Residents at the meeting Monday suggested a park can be done in phases with the available money to be used for the first phase.

A location previously discussed was south of the school complex off state Route 45 and north of the cemetery.

Trustees will give Green feedback on a park idea at the Feb. 18 meeting so she can help them with available grants.

Also at the meeting, trustees approved a resolution requiring companies to have a permit before excavation or cuts in right-of-way or driveway access off roads.

Trustees said there have been issues with road cuts and road boring on streets.

In other action, trustees:

•Approved advertising for bids for the road paving project for Eldon, Shirley and Clearview avenues which is an Ohio Public Works Commission project costing $384,481. The township is to pay 61% of the costs at $234,918.

•Heard from Road Supervisor Shawn Davis, who is seeking a $5,500 grant for signage at the cemetery.

•Heard from Police Chief Larry Skaggs that a person was caught damaging markers at the cemetery and sentenced to jail time.

•Approved Trustee Rick York and Miller as representatives of the township at the tax incentive review council meeting March 14.