Voters in Mahoning communities approve levies, charter amendments

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.

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.

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.

Austintown Township voters approved a 0.6-mill, five-year renewal levy, for general fund expenses that raises $156,285 annually. Austintown

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.

Mahoning County voters also approved five-year renewal levies in several communities.

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