Boardman trustees to approve budget next week

March 25, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

By kalea hall

boardman

Boardman Township Trustees will wait one more week to approve the 2014 budget.

However, the trustees did allocate funds for several different items on the agenda at their meeting Monday at Heritage Presbyterian Church.

Those items include the purchase of two replacement pump dispensers for $14,142, the purchase of two Ford F150 pick-up trucks for $45,239, five police vehicles for $131,897, ammunition from Vance’s Law Enforcement of Columbus for $23,032 and one fleet service vehicle for $26,431.

Road Superintendent Larry Wilson told the trustees the pump dispensers are “falling apart and getting old” and it is time to replace the trucks through a State Cooperative Purchasing Agreement that allows townships and other entities to buy goods and services at a cost savings through state contracts.

The police department will receive five new 2014 Ford Police Interceptor Utilities vehicles, also through a state contract.

“It is kind of like an automatic rotation of replacing 25 percent of our cars every year,” Police Chief Jack Nichols said.

Nichols also told the trustees ammunition costs have increased, but the supply authorized for purchase Monday will last the township until the end of the year.

The replacement of a 1994 Ford Ranger fleet service vehicle is for the police-car mechanic, Nichols told the board.

Also at the meeting, trustees gave approval for Township Administrator Jason Loree to have MS Consultants perform architectural services not to exceed $12,000 for a new main fire station.

In comments from department heads, Fire Chief George Brown told the board the firefighter who fell from the second floor to the first while fighting a fire on Sugar Creek Drive on March 12 will require surgery.

Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti discussed the roundabout that will be constructed over 45 days during the summer months at Sheridan and Mathews roads to alleviate traffic congestion. Ginnetti said that the project is completely federally funded.

The trustees’ next regular meeting will take place at 6 p.m. April 14 at the Boardman Township Administration Building.