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LIVERPOOL TOWNSHIP -- During Tuesday's meeting of the Liverpool Township Board of Trustees, the trustees approved the placement of a fire levy on the November General Election Ballot.
If it passes the 1.45-mill additional levy should generate approximately $127,000 and would cost homeowners $51 per $100,000 tax valuation.
According to trustee Michael Bahen, this would be the first fire levy for the township in 16 years and it is needed because the Liverpool Township Volunteer Fire Department gets less than half of what all the other local volunteer departments get for running on department and Liverpool Township is running two departments.
Bahen noted that the Liverpool Township Volunteer Fire Department only received $119,000 last year for which they had to cover their insurance increasing by $24,000, a $70,000 truck payment and a 50% match on the $13,000 Forestry grant the department received to purchased new turnout gear and equipment.
"We just come to the place where we can't keep up," Bahen said. "It has been 16 years since our last levy, so we are going to have this to actually keep working."
Bahen also noted the department is supposed have their ISO rating next year for insurance purposes and the department has to have the trucks updated and pump tested and everything that needs done completed before that and they have come to the place where the money isn't there to do it. He also said that if they don't pass the ISO, it could result in a rise in homeowner's insurance due to the fire department not meeting standards. Bahen said they always try to qualify to keep the rates as low as possible.
Bahen also said that last week Dixonville Station had Tanker 23 out of service needing repair and they couldn't send it out, so Firefighter Justin Tausch repaired it on his own time, and they were able to get it back in service.
"We just got to let the people know that it's time," Bahen said. "I don't like doing it; I'm retired but we got to do it if we want a fire department to keep up with the times."
Jon Vennum was approved for hire as a full-time employee for the Road Department with a start date of July 27 and a starting rate of $21.20 an hour with a 50-cent increase after six months.
Fiscal Officer Shirley Flati said she finished the filing of mandatory quarterly report for the second quarter and the yearly PCORI and has reached out to Blue Line Solutions for the information to file the annual traffic camera enforcement report.
A resolution to reallocate appropriations for the General Fund in the amount of $550 from the Repair and Maintenance line item to the Contracted Services Line item in the amount of $495 and Other Expenses Line Item in the amount of $55.
Also approved were the minutes from the July 7 board of trustees meeting and payment of bills in the amount of $69,900.02
The Liverpool Township Board of Trustees meets every other Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Township Administration Building, 2485 Boring Lane, East Liverpool. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 4.