Three long-time trustees will be stepping down at the end of this year after contributing not only to their own communities, but to the county as well.

Retiring from public service are Southington trustee Dan Tietz with 32 years, Warren Township trustee Kay Anderson with 28 years and Johnston trustee Dominic Marchese with 24 years.

TIETZ

Tietz said he has served eight terms as a trustee, but first served on the Southington Board of Education 1986 to 1990.

He served as a trustee from 1990 to 1998 and then returned from 2002 to 2025.

“I had great trustee boards to work with. I had a lot of help, which made my job easier,” he said.

Tietz said his father, Walter, was on the school board for four years, which inspired him to be on the board.

He said he became interested in being a trustee because of water issues at the school. Tietz said getting waterline projects done in the township were big projects as were improvements and additions at the park.

He said he will always remember the Mike Tyson pet tiger issue when the boxer had a home in the township.

“We won that court case. He couldn’t keep the tiger,” Tietz said.

Resident Bruce Sample said he remembers when his son and Tietz’s son played baseball together.

“Dan has been a coach and done so much for the community. Dan has always been a very capable person and has nothing but a good reputation behind him,” Sample said.

Fellow trustee Charles Hagman and Cindy Speaker presented a proclamation to Tietz for his 32 years of service.

Retired from the automotive industry in repair and insurance, he and his wife Sue will have more time to spend with their three children and grandchildren.

Speaker said Tietz was very knowledgeable about issues affecting the township and always had the answer.

“He has been a great mentor to men. He knows all about the township and what has happened here in the last 30 years. I am sorry to see him go,” Hagman said.

Tietz said he remembers the great working relationship with trustee Sam Plott, who also served for more than 30 years. He said Plott joined him as a trustee in 1992.

Fire Chief Scott Bower said he and the fire department have always had a great working relationship with Tietz

Tietz said the accomplishments this past year included renovation work at the township hall with new windows, floor and lighting. Chuck Vanek will replace Tietz on Jan. 1.

ANDERSON

Anderson began her public service in 1998.

She said she was active with the Downtown Leavittsburg Improvement Association, which became involved with township issues, and Trustee Terri Ambrose asked her to consider running for a seat on the trustee board.

“I wanted to help the community and give back. The improvement association was very active in cleaning up the downtown. When I became a trustee, I enjoyed serving. I had great trustee boards to work with,” she said.

Anderson said finally getting sewer and waterlines for parts of the township has been an item on the trustees’ agenda for 30 years.

Trustee Ed Anthony, a 12-year trustee, said he knew Anderson when he was a police officer for the township for 33 years.

“She has a lot of knowledge about the township. By the time I became a trustee, she had served for many years. Kay has one of the biggest hearts of anyone, always doing what she can to help others. She is all about the residents and has pride in the community. Kay is a very dedicated and caring person. If someone is sick or needs something, she makes that phone call,” Anthony said.

Ambrose, a former trustee who served 18 years with Anderson, said she, Anderson and Cheryl Zaben made history as the first all woman trustee board, along with fiscal officer Debra D’Orio.

“It was an honor to work with her. We all worked together. Our goal as a trustee board was to do what was best for the residents of the township. Kay was always very dedicated and committed,” Ambrose said.

Trustee Ryan Yoho said Anderson was a mentor to him and always had advice and suggestions.

“She has a wealth of knowledge about this township,” Yoho said.

Braceville trustee Dennis Kuchta, who has 30 years of service, said Braceville and Warren townships would often work together on different projects.

“She was always great to work with. We were both new trustees so I would often call her with questions on projects that would benefit both townships. We would help each other if we needed each other’s advice on something,” Kuchta said.

Anderson said her replacement, Tyler Wilson, will do well as a trustee since serving as zoning inspector already has provided him with much knowledge.

“When he became zoning inspector, he hit the ground running and will do the same as a trustee. I am very confident he will do well,” she said.

MARCHESE

Marchese said after serving since 2001 as a trustee, he felt “24 years was enough.”

He said he first got involved with the township in the early 1980s to get zoning on the ballot.

“I was on a committee and we worked with the trustees to get the zoning initiative on the ballot and it passed in 1982. We have had zoning for more than 40 years because of the work of the committee and the trustees. That was when I first got involved with township issues,” he said.

In 2000, Marchese decided to run for trustee after there were issues with injection wells in the community.

“There were concerns of people wanting to put in injection wells. I wanted to be involved and fight against injection wells in the township. We were able to do that by focusing on the zoning,” Marchese said.

Marchese said he is proud of being able to get a senior center in the township in the former Veterans of Foreign Wars building.

“We have had it for 20 years and it is well used. We had the building remodeled for a senior center,” Marchese said.

He said he is hopeful the township will be able to secure either state or federal funds for remodeling the center because the building needs a new roof.

He said he is also proud of the road projects done over the years.

Marchese said three years ago, he applied for an Ohio Public Works Commission grant for paving and other work on Dunbar Lane.

He said while the township does not have a road levy on the books, there is money available in the general fund for a local matching share for grants.

Marchese said each road paving costs about $350,000, with the local share at approximately $30,000.

“We don’t want to burden the residents seeking more money so we know each road is paved on a rotation basis, so the local match is secured for any grants the township is able to receive,” he said.

Trustees also have worked with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office to get an outpost set up at the senior center.

He said trustees have spoken with Sheriff Mike Wilson about getting the outpost back.

“They will be able to stop there and do their paperwork and other business. This will also give a more visible presence by the sheriff’s office in Johnston. I am proud we are able to get that up again,” Marchese said.

Marchese said he is also done serving on the Trumbull County Senior Services Levy board, on which he has served for 10 years. Marchese said at age 83, he feels it is time to step down.

“I don’t want to overstay my welcome. It is time to step away. I am proud that as a trustee board, we have been able to do a lot of things, such as paving parking lots at township hall and the community center,” he said.

He said he was most proud of being involved with Johnston’s bicentennial in 2003. Marchese said the township was established before Ohio became a state.

Elected to fill Marchese’s seat is Jared Cain, who was the top vote getter in a five-person race.

“He will do a good job. I feel it is time to leave and let younger people get involved. I will miss the trustees and employees I have worked with. They are a wonderful group of people. The township is blessed to have them,” Marchese said.

He said he will stay busy on his farm, taking care of cattle.

Trustee Davis Denman, who has served for 22 years with Marchese, said Marchese has been “a wealth of knowledge who loves the township.”

“He will be missed. If I ever had a question, he had the answer. He has been great to work with. He is a trustee the community could count on knowing he would do what he could for the residents,” Denman said.