Renewal fire/EMS levy to be placed on ballot
At a special meeting of the Lawrence Township Board of Trustees Feb. 3, members voted to place a five-year, 3-mill renewal levy for fire and EMS support on the May primary ballot. The matter was discussed previously at the Jan. 27 board meeting, but no vote was taken.
Discussion about the matter Jan. 27 included dialogue introduced by Trustee Matt Ritterbeck about an existing 4-mill levy township residents passed in 2003, which he said is a permanent levy that will never terminate.
According to Ritterbeck, that levy is currently collecting at only 2.7, generating approximately $547,643 annually in property taxes. However, Ritterbeck said his only point in bringing up the 2011 levy is to let voters know it is still generating funding for fire and EMS service.
The 3-mill renewal levy voters will face on the ballot in May was originally passed in 2020 to generate additional funding for fire and EMS throughout the township. Ritterbeck said he did not want to take a side for or against the levy but simply wanted voters to be fully informed.
Ritterbeck said the township is able to provide a lot of service to residents through such funding including a new $270,000 ambulance, a $1.2 million ladder truck and more.
He also expressed appreciation for the local fire department and EMS members who helped the community with the Tusky Valley bus crash and for all they do for the community.
Roads report
Road Superintendent Perry Myers told trustees the new F30 Ford truck has been ordered, and he had rented a manlift to remove a dead maple tree and trim trees in the Fort Laurens Cemetery. He said the road crew has been very busy with snow removal and maintaining snow equipment.
Myers also presented trustees with the Ohio Department of Transportation 2024 Township Highway Mileage Certification showing the township as being responsible for maintaining 40.184 miles of public roads. Trustees voted to accept the certification and signed a copy to be returned to ODOT.
Myers then presented trustees with a list of 2025 resurfacing projects he would like to have sent to the county engineer’s office for bidding. Trustees voted to approve and submit the list.
Haueter advised trustees that he and fiscal officer Ann Ackerman met with the Bolivar Fire Department and went over their budget for 2025 and presented trustees with a contract for fire and EMS services.
The Lawrence Township Board of Trustees meets the second and last Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Charles E. Lundenberger Hall, 10867 Industrial Parkway NW, Bolivar. All meetings are open to the public.