Trustees approve renewal levies for November ballot

The police chief is looking for someone to run its juvenile diversion program.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield Township voters will decide on two renewal levies on the November ballot.
Trustees unanimously agreed Wednesday to place on the ballot a two-mill, five-year fire and EMS levy renewal and a two-mill, five-year renewal of a levy for township expenses.
Also at the trustees meeting Wednesday, Police Chief Matthew Mohn announced he is accepting applications for a juvenile diversion specialist to run a new program expected to start in September. Mohn had announced in May he planned to start the program ,which is designed to keep youths out of the juvenile court system by working with them and their families locally.
He said he prefers applicants to have a bachelor's degree in a social science, at least one year work experience with juveniles, case management, time management and crisis intervention skills, and working knowledge of Microsoft applications. Applicants should send a r & eacute;sum & eacute; and photograph to Mohn at the Springfield Township Police Department, 3475 E. South Range Road, by Aug. 9.
Trustees also announced they are buying a new telephone system for $6,673. A resident asked the age of the current system, and trustees didn't know. But Trustee Robert Orr said the system has no caller ID, is losing messages and is otherwise malfunctioning.
Exploded ordnance
Fire Chief Brian Hughes reported that explosives found recently at a house in Youngstown had been detonated on private property in Petersburg without the knowledge of township officials. He said he has asked the Youngstown Bomb Squad to notify him the next time. But he said they are under no legal obligation to do so and only need the landowner's permission and to maintain a safe distance. He commented that if the township were zoned, it would be able to prohibit such detonations.
Also Wednesday:
EMS Captain Karen Philibin reported the EMS service has received its 14th state grant, amounting to $5,500 for 2006-2007. The money will be used to buy ambulance equipment.
In response to a question from former Township Trustee Lee Kohler, Orr said he will contact the Ohio Ethics Commission for an opinion on whether it is a conflict of interest for him to negotiate with road workers who are represented by Teamsters when Orr receives a pension from the Teamsters. Orr retired from USF Holland in Akron where he was a member of the Teamsters.
Kohler also questioned Holleran about whether any ceiling has been established on how much the township would be required to pay back on a loan for the planned Petersburg sewer. Holleran said he was unsure but said nothing has been signed yet.
Hughes announced the fire department will conduct a controlled burn of a structure Saturday at 4122 E. Garfield Road.