WARREN TOWNSHIP — The Warren Township Fire Department does not have enough staff for 24-hour coverage at the station, so fire Chief Joseph Natali said the department will pay the fee for mutual aid from Champion starting in April.

Earlier this month, Champion trustees approved charging a fee for mutual aid ambulance service to neighboring communities starting April 1, noting the Champion Fire Department is also limited in staff, but wants to help other communities when it can.

Natali said at Tuesday’s meeting there were 73 emergency medical service calls in February, with the department receiving 31 mutual aids from other fire departments and providing 10 mutual aids to other communities. He said Champion provided three of those mutual aid assists.

Natali said the fire station had coverage 64% of the time during February, with many off-duty fire reserves providing the coverage. Natali said in addition to Champion, they receive mutual aid assistance from Braceville, Lordstown and Newton Falls.

He said since the beginning of the year, Lordstown responded with mutual aid 58 times, Braceville 11 times, Howland one time and Newton Falls four times.

Trustees said they were made aware of the changes in a letter sent by Champion officials. Champion will bill other townships a fee of $750 per transport and $100 for nontransport calls.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business, trustee Tyler Wilson said with work being done on the Leavittsburg Dam, an old gas line has been exposed since the Mahoning River water level has dropped.

“We are checking on this to see if this was a 40-year-old line buried there. We contacted the Army Corps (of Engineers) to look into this and if a new line can replace the old one. It should be resolved quickly,” he said.

Wilson said there are concerns about people canoeing in the area. The dam is owned by the Trumbull County MetroParks, which began work last fall on the dam’s removal.

Also, resident Darryl Parker of Miller Street said there have been thefts from a vacant home on Miller Street, with windows broken and stray cats and other animals getting inside.

“The first thing I see when I wake up in the morning is that house. It used to be a nice house and now it is not a good look,” he said.

Police Chief Ben Harrell said the thieves were caught at another house on Bane Street. Parker asked if the vacant house on Miller Street can be taken down.

He thanked officials for getting a former gas station on Tod Avenue removed and asked if the former gas station on Route 5 also can be taken down. Trustee Ed Anthony said the state Route 5 location is being addressed by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Trustees also heard from resident Tom Marsh of South Leavitt Road that someone spray painted graffiti on his ice cream shop. Harrell said police will patrol the area more.

In other business, trustees:

• Accepted the resignation of fiscal officer Christopher Haught effective May 1 and named Derek Marsh as his replacement.

• Heard from Wilson the comprehensive plan will be worked on by the zoning board once the Trumbull County Planning Commission gets involved.

• Hired Dave Testa as a community center caretaker at $1,100 per month starting April 1.

• Heard from Road Superintendent David King that tree cutting and clearing has been taking place since the recent windstorms knocked over trees.

• Heard from resident Nancy Ritz if the aging cemetery sign can be replaced, noting it is hard to read.

• Approved the purchase of a new boom truck for $15,500.