CHAMPION — With the snow and ice on the roads this winter, residents are concerned about future snow melt causing flooding after extensive problems last spring and summer in parts of the township.

Resident Christine Guesman of Chapel Hill Drive asked trustees at a recent meeting about flooding that occurred in the area in 2025 and expressed concern about it continuing this year.

Guesman said she also has spoken to county officials about her flooding concerns and questioned county officials about the water pipes not being big enough to handle the water.

Road Foreman Shawn Davis said the pipes have been cleaned and checked, but with the rainfall in such a short period of time last year, the pipes could not handle that amount of water so quickly. He said this was an issue in different parts of the townships, as well as other communities.

“We saw rainfall like we have never seen before. There was a massive amount of water that came down fast. I hope we do not see that again. All the streets were flooded. I and the other trustees were out and could not drive on some streets because of all the water,” said Trustee Chairman Doug Emerine.

Guesman said she is concerned there are still issues on Chapel Hill Drive because some of the water is not draining. Davis said he would check that area.

Last spring and summer, residents attended several trustee meetings to voice their frustrations about the flooding caused by heavy rain. In addition to Chapel Hill, many residents of Shaffer Road also had problems.

Emerine said at the time that flooding in these areas has been a problem for years. He has said the issue is not in the township ditches or right-of-ways.

The township last year purchased a $15,000 camera system to help identify underground issues more efficiently and help pinpoint where the township needs to dig or repair lines, which was previously handled by outside contractors.

SAFETY TOTALS

Fire and police officials noted that calls were up in 2025.

Fire Chief Tom Dempsey said total calls to the fire department were 2,724, which he said was a record breaking number. Officials have noted the Champion Fire Department is the busiest single-station in the county

Police Chief Larry Skaggs said calls for the police department were 6,015, compared to 5,974 in 2024.

Trustees noted that the contract with the police officers union expires April 30. Trustees also tabled acting on a new three-year contract for the police chief and a one-year contract with the fire chief until a future meeting.

As for community events, trustees decided to host a free garage sale weekend May 28 to 31 with no permit needed, but a sign-up permit in the zoning office is required.

Trustees decided to not host a cleanup day and tire collection this year because of issues from prior years.

Officials also are looking into leaf and limb pickup and street sweeping.