Trustees continue to make case for police levy


February 13, 2018 at 12:00a.m.

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

A police levy remained the main topic of discussion during Monday’s township trustees meeting.

“When a police officer leaves his home he doesn’t know if he’s coming home for sure,” resident Eric Newton said. “So think about your dollar every day. A dollar for this is very good.”

Last month, the township submitted a proposed police levy of 2.4 mills, with an increase of 0.8 mills, for police officer salaries and maintaining vehicles, equipment and communications. It will appear on the May 8 primary ballot. A single mill in Austintown Township is valued at $622,000, and if passed, the continuing police levy would yield between $1.5 million and $2 million yearly, said Mike Dockry, township administrator.

Moving forward, Trustee Jim Davis said the levy will remain in discussion at each meeting and “dispel myths” about the township’s police force.

“We’re not excited to ask about the levy,” Trustee Ken Carano said. “We think we’re at the bare minimum to provide for the great people in Austintown.”

Carano, also the vice president of the Austintown Growth Foundation, announced the foundation’s Hall of Fame selections for 2017 during Monday evening’s trustees meeting.

Those inductees are Ken Jakubec, veteran and former Austintown schools board member; Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer Detective Jeff Toth; and the late John Facemyer, a veteran and longtime American Legion Post 301 member. The Growth Foundation is awarding its Image Award to Charly’s Restaurant, 4455 Kirk Road, and Advanced Marking & Printing, 6000 Mahoning Ave.

Inductees, whose photos will hang in the township building, are recognized by the foundation for continued community service. The Image Award highlights businesses that “enhanced the image of Austintown” after years of existence in the township.

The induction ceremony is 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Rachel’s Restaurant, 54 Westchester Drive. More information on the event is available by calling 330-793-4058 or emailing jsovik@zoominternet.