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MAHONING COMMUNITY TAX ISSUES Fire levies supported
By ROBERT CONNELLY
YOUNGSTOWN
Several communities approved the renewal of levies, while Canfield had three new issues in front of voters, all of which passed.
Approved was a new operating levy, 1.25-mills for a continuous period to raise $627,854 annually, for the Cardinal Joint Fire District, specifically to staff a new fire house to be built on Herbert Road in Canfield Township.
“We’re going to be doing our best to keep everyone safe and get our response times even faster, and we have the money to build this new fire station,” fire district Chief Don Hutchison said.
The CJFD continues to finalize architectural plans and could begin construction on the new fire station in late spring or early summer. The fire board already has the funding to build the third fire station, but needed the levy funding to support operating the new station, which would double as a training center. The new fire station will reduce response times to residents in the northwest corner of the CJFD’s coverage area as well as free up response time at the main station inside the Canfield city building, 104 S. Lisbon St.
Two charter amendments in Canfield City were approved. These were again spearheaded by resident Frank Micchia, who said Tuesday night, “I’m pleased that it happened. I think it’s for the overall benefit for the people of Canfield.”
Micchia has put several charter amendments on recent ballots that were opposed by the city and passed by voters, most notably term limits.
Canfield City Mayor Bernie Kosar Sr. said, “I am on record as thinking they are not good for the city of Canfield. I think they are just going to cause confusion.”
Current and former city leaders had been opposed to Micchia’s charter amendments. Those will now require the police chief, finance director, zoning inspector and a public works foreman to give reports at city council meetings.
The second amendment allows for a resident to give public comment prior to a final vote by city council with a limit of three minutes and a maximum of 30 minutes on any one issue.
Another joint fire district, the Western Reserve Joint Fire District, the volunteer fire department serving Poland, won approval of its its 0.8-mill renewal levy for fire services by a 3-to-1 margin. That was a five-year renewal to raise $160,831 annually.
“The fire district board of trustees and the firefighters are grateful for the support of our residents and I think that the success of the levy reflects on the community’s appreciation on our volunteer firefighters,” fire district Chief Chip Comstock said.
On the wide margin of victory, Comstock said: “We don’t ask for additional money very often, but when we have in the past the community has been supportive.”
AUSTINTOWN, BOARDMAN LEVIES OK’D
Austintown Township voters approved a 0.6-mill, five-year renewal levy, for general fund expenses that raises $156,285 annually. Austintown “It’s just an outstanding commitment by Austintown. It’s outstanding the commitment that people continue to give,” township Trustee Jim Davis said.
Boardman Township voters approved two renewals, a five-year, 2.5-mill levy for current expenses to raise $1,931,697 yearly and a 0.3-mill levy for road and bridge work to raise $119,211 annually. Township Administrator Jason Loree said both of those items being approved allows the township to continue with its five year plan, called Boardman 2016.
“Without these two renewals passing, we would be in a real hard place in keeping the 2016 plan up and running,” Loree said.
Mahoning County voters also approved five-year renewal levies in the following communities: Beaver Township, fire department, 1 mill to raise $86,027 annually, and its police department, 3.6 mills to raise $537,960 yearly ; Springfield, 1 mill for the fire department to raise $117,883 annually and a 1 mill levy for the police department; and Poland Village, a 3.2 mills levy for current expenses to raise $176,129 annually.
The widest margin of victory was in Poland Village, 75.80 percent in favor of the renewal.