GOSHEN TOWNSHIP — The board of trustees voted unanimously to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds to cover the cost of a data migration for the police department in its meeting Monday.

The migration will be completed by the Powell based Optimum Technology Inc. at a cost of $44,880 and will transfer all of the department’s records from its previous record management software (RMS) to the new Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway Swift RMS program which the department will be switching to.

Police Chief John Calko explained that while the department was able to obtain the new software through the state at no cost, it used a different data format than the department’s previous RMS software which was over 20 years old and no longer supported by the developer requiring that data to be converted to a format accepted by the new program.

Trustee Shawn Mesler also announced that the township’s application to participate in next year’s Ohio Public Works Commission project had been approved and the township would be picking up where the current Duck Creek Road project left off at the northern section of Garfield Road through state Route 14, and from state Route 165 to Diagonal Road. Mesler said that this would cover 32% of the roughly $234,000 total project cost, representing a savings of $75,000 for the township, and that the project could not begin until after July 1.

Mesler also announced that the township had been authorized for funding from the Mahoning County Land Bank to demolish the nuisance building located at 14854 South Pricetown Road. Mesler said that the property was currently being inspected for any issues requiring special abatement such as asbestos and that it was currently estimated to be demolished sometime in February.

During his report Calko presented trustees with a requested quote to update the exit signs at the township administration building, with only one of 10 currently operational. Calko said that Uline offered plastic LED exit signs that would fit the current mounts at a cost of roughly $45 each, though they would likely have to be wired in at an additional cost.

During her report Damascus Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Prevention Officer April Thorne thanked residents for their support in approving the 2 mills property tax replacement fire levy. The trustees also thanked residents for their support in passing the levy.

The board of trustees will meet next at 6 p.m. Dec. 10.

mahart@mojonews.com