Liberty

WHAT: Board of trustees meeting Monday

PRESENT: Arnie Clebone, Devon Stanley and Greg Cizmar

The board:

• Approved the township’s temporary budget for 2026.

• Approved reappointing Thomas Anness to the Zoning Board of Appeals, with his term ending Dec. 31, 2030.

• Approved hiring Jeffery Riedel as a full-time probationary Road Department employee, effective Dec. 15.

• Approved extending the township’s contract with Anthem for employee health care insurance coverage, from Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2026, with a 26% increase in premium and continuing the employee contribution at 15%.

• Approved awarding the Liberty Township Center Park restoration project drainage improvements to LM & R Excavating for $289,478 as the low bidder.

• Approved appointing Tony Villanueva as a reserve officer for the police department with no wages or benefits. Villanueva is a former major with the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office.

— Brandon Cantwell

Champion

WHAT: Township trustee meeting Monday

PRESENT: Rex Fee, Doug Emerine and Rick York

Trustees:

• Were informed that the Ohio Public Works Commission paving project was not able to be done this fall due to the weather. Officials said the project has been pushed back to spring 2026 and will include the paving of Clearview, Eldon and Shirley roads. RT Vernal is scheduled for the project.

• Received a donation of Marcs radio equipment from the Ohio State Highway Patrol valued at $35,000.

• Accepted the resignations of Cynthia Thomas from the zoning board and Michael Bloom from the zoning board of appeals.

• Heard from Mike Wilson, executive director of SCOPE, the new senior center in the township will be opened the second or third week of January.

• Will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, which will be the last meeting of Fee, who chose not to seek reelection to the trustee seat.

— Bob Coupland