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KINSMAN -- After 15 years of service as a township trustee, Greg Leonhard is stepping down for a job with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office.
Leonhard's last day as a trustee was at the August meeting.
Leonard said he received an offer from Trumbull County Sheriff Mike Wilson to be operations commander for the sheriff's office. He said the decision was not an easy one.
"I have dedicated most of my adult life to serving Kinsman Township starting as a police officer in January 1993 and later elected a trustee in 2011. Looking back, I am incredibly proud of what the trustee board has accomplished in the past 15 years," Leonhard said.
He said during his time as a trustee, the board has been able to complete various road and sewer projects, get load limits to protect the infrastructure, provide house numbers to the residents to improve their safety when police and fire need to find their homes, a new township administration building and improvements to roads.
"We successfully guided our community through major flooding in 2019 and were able to turn the greenspace into a park that is used by many community members and organizations. The greenspace is used for many outstanding community events," Leonhard said.
He said after four years of work, one significant environmental accomplishment was that Pyamtuning Creek was designated as a wild and scenic river in Ohio.
"It is one of only 15 rivers in Ohio to receive that designation and the only one in Trumbull County," he said.
Leonhard said trustees have aggressively sought grant funding for sidewalk and sewer projects and sidewalks at the greenspace, improvements to the township garage, and security cameras and updated lighting.
"Throughout my years as a trustee I always focused on doing what was best for Kinsman Township, working to find solutions to flooding and other issues. Every decision made was in the community's best interest," Leonhard said.
In addition to a trustee, Leonhard served as a police officer and started the annual summer safety forces day, which has been held for 30 years, and participated in Shop with a Cop and the Christmas Eve gift distribution to the public.
"No task was ever too small since every job helped make Kinsman a better place. I have truly enjoyed every minute of serving this community,'' Leonhard said.
He said he enjoyed working with his fellow trustees in the past 15 years and noted teamwork helped get a lot accomplished. Leonhard said while the trustees may not have always agreed, they focused on what was best for the township. He also thanked the fiscal officers he worked with for their dedicated service and professionalism to the community.
He also thanked his family for their support when he was away from them to do something for the township.
Leonhard also thanked resident Richard Thompson, who he said has made an impact on Kinsman that is visible with the sewer and sidewalk projects he contributed to and many historic buildings that he has been involved in restoring.
"I thank the residents for placing their trust and confidence in me. I hope you know every decision I made was guided by my love for this community and what was in the best interest of the township. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be a trustee," Leonhard said.
He said he looks forward to contributing his service to the county as operations commander with the sheriff's office.
"While my responsibility will change, my love for Kinsman never will," he said.
Banning and Hopkins thanked Leonhard for his service and accepted his resignation. Hopkins was named trustee vice chairman to replace Leonhard.
Trustees also approved naming former trustee Bruce Bancroft to fill the remainder of Leonhard's term through December 2027.
Bancroft served from 2022 to 2025 as trustee, but placed second in the November election to Hopkins. If Bancroft wants to continue a new term as trustee, he will need to run in the November 2027 general election.