KINSMAN — After months of discussion, township trustees on Monday decided to continue receiving emergency medical service from neighboring Johnston Township this year while looking at options for 2026.

Trustees voted 3-0 on the new agreement with Kinsman paying $102,000 this year.

Trustee Chairman Jamin Banning said while he agrees to have an agreement with Johnston this year, for 2026, officials need to meet with Johnston officials on the idea of running the ambulance service like a district.

“There needs to be some type of representation from all the communities involved,” Banning said.

EMS is provided by Johnston to Kinsman, Vernon, Gustavus and part of Greene.

Trustee Greg Leonhard said the billing process for EMS needs to be reviewed and looked at to make sure no money is being lost.

Banning said there also needs to be discussion of training of firefighters to help from the ambulance calls on an as-needed basis.

Leonhard agreed with Banning that a meeting needs to be set up to address concerns from any of the communities involved.

Officials have said that in 2020 the township paid Johnston $52,883 for ambulance service. In 2021 and 2022, the cost was $69,766, and in 2024 — because of a deficit in the Johnston fire fund — Kinsman paid $76,338 before returning to $69,766 in 2024.

Trustees pay Johnston based on what millage is raised in each township from a 2-mill levy. Vernon, Gustavus and Kinsman pay Johnston what a 2-mill levy in each township would generate.

Residents at the meeting said Kinsman pays more than Gustavus and Vernon for the same service.

Leonhard said the call volume is also a factor.

In other business, residents in parts of the township have noise complaints, most of which are barking dogs.

Leonhard said trustees are checking into the complaints, which would be a misdemeanor.

Police would give warnings on first complaints, but for repeat complaints of barking dogs, there would be a citation to the court.

He said fines are set by Trumbull County Eastern District Court in Brookfield, where Kinsman cases are handled.

In other action, trustees:

l Heard from Leonhard that new benches and lights for the greenspace area have been ordered and will arrive this spring, with costs covered by donations and grants.

l Heard from Leonhard the township will receive a $1,679 “Go Green” scrap tire grant from Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District for scrap tire collection and additional security cameras for the recycling site.

l Will attend a meeting 10 a.m. Feb. 26 with the county engineer’s office to discuss various projects. The engineer’s office annual meeting for all townships is set for April 9.