PUBLIC SERVICES 1-mill police, fire levies to be on ballot

The levies will be used to purchase new equipment and pay operational costs.
NEW SPRINGFIELD - One-mill police and fire levies will be on the November ballot in Springfield Township.
Township trustees agreed at their meeting Wednesday to place a five-year 1-mill additional police levy for vehicles, equipment and other operational costs on the ballot. A 1-mill police levy was defeated by voters last November.
The fire levy is a 1-mill continuous levy. Trustee Reed Metzka voted against it, saying he would vote for a five-year fire levy but not for a continuous levy.
Trustee Shirley Heck said putting it on the ballot lets residents make the decision.
Fire Chief Brian Hughes said the levy would make possible a program to buy a new vehicle every five years to replace aging vehicles.
The oldest in the fleet are a pumper and tanker, which are 18 and 19 years old, respectively. They do not meet safety requirements, he said.
He said he would also like to see a third ambulance in the township.
Health concerns
In other business, Mary Helen Smith of the Mahoning County District Board of Health reported on results of a county environmental health survey in which Springfield Township participated.
She said that asthma and childhood obesity rates are a problem in the county, as well as contaminated wells and leaking septic systems. She said Mahoning County imports 1 million tons of solid waste each year into its landfills.
Fielding questions from residents about the Waste Management landfill on East Garfield Road, she said odors coming from the landfill are not a health danger.
She said the landfill has an odor suppressant system which can be turned on and residents should call her office or the landfill when odors become offensive.
She said that anyone living within a mile of any landfill in Mahoning County is entitled to two free tests of their well water per year. Anyone interested in this service should leave their names at the township office.
Cemetery documentation
Heck reported that the Springfield Local High School National Honor Society has completed about two-thirds of mapping and documenting the old township cemetery. She said this is the first step in restoring the cemetery. During the summer, local 4-H and Boy Scout groups will be doing work there, she said.
Trustees also set the rate at five cents per page for copying of public records for residents after the first 25 pages, which are free. A copy of a recording would be made for the cost of a cassette, or for free if a cassette is provided.