Trustees consider levy options

The police chief has said the police need more officers and new cruisers.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Voters are likely going to be asked to approve more tax revenue for the police department, though trustees aren't sure yet of the details.
Trustees said at their Monday meeting that they are considering a replacement levy for the November ballot. The deadline to do so is Aug. 24.
Under Ohio law, the township has had to work with the same amount of revenue its five police levies originally generated, even though the community has grown and stretched services thinner.
As growth affects a community, levy millage declines as more people move in to share the tax burden, officials explained. A replacement levy restores original millage after a community's growth has driven it down, so taxes would increase.
The trustees are considering combining two of the five levies into one, and are considering three scenarios: combinations of 0.8-mill and 1.8-mill levies, 1.4-milll and 1.8-mill levies, and 0.8-mill and 1.4-mill levies. They are waiting for the county auditor to certify how much revenue each combination would generate before they decide which is best.
Trustees and the township's police chief have said the police department is understaffed and needs new cruisers and new radios. Trustee Lisa Oles said township officials have tried to be frugal by eliminating the road supervisor position and stopping the practice of allowing some employees to take home their township cars.
She added that township employees have agreed to wage freezes. "We've tried to run each department as efficiently as possible," she said.
Flooding
Flooding problems also continue in parts of the township. Trustees heard this time from residents of Baker Street, who contend that inadequate drainage systems from two businesses on state Route 46 and Mahoning Avenue are contributing to flooding in yards and basements on the street.
"On July 10, 14, 20 and 21, we were flooded," said resident Harry Daff. He said he believes a retention area for the Skate Zone on Mahoning is releasing water too quickly.
Fred Barnett said his basement has flooded several times with water he believes is from Austintown Ambulatory Emergency Room on Route 46. He said water is buckling his driveway and garage floor.
Trustees said they will instruct the township zoning inspector to make it a priority to solve the problems.
Trustees also announced they have a state grant to install a sidewalk on Raccoon Road from New Road to Mahoning Avenue. The grant is for around $250,000.
The board, before its regular meeting, denied a zone change from residential to business for a strip of land owned by Michael Mulhall.
Mulhall wanted to build a road on the land to allow traffic from his bar, Mike's Lounge on Mahoning Avenue, to exit onto Barkley Street, a residential street behind the business.