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Coventry considers replacement parks levy



COVENTRY — After being defeated twice by voters, the Coventry Board of Trustees is exploring a replacement parks levy instead of a replacement and increase.
During the May 16 meeting, trustees approved sending a request to the Summit County Fiscal Officer to learn what a replacement levy would generate on the existing 0.5-mill levy.
In the May 2 Primary/Special Election, a five-year, 0.5-mill parks and recreation levy with an additional 0.25-mill levy, which would have collected $212,000 annually for the purchase of equipment, for operations and to maintain and improve parkland, failed with 61% of the voters saying no. The levy would have cost property owners $26 annually per $100,000 in property valuation, which is an additional $8.76 annually from the current levy. Voters in the 2022 November General Election defeated the same levy with 53% turning down the request.
Trustees said they will determine whether to move the issue to the Nov. 7 General Election ballot after information from the fiscal officer is received.
In other business, trustees approved:
• payments of $4,433 to Carpet Centre Carpet One for carpet in the dorm and day room of the fire department; $30,740 to Hybrid Heating and Cooling for the replacement of two rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning units on the fire department roof; to the Summit County Fiscal Office, $46,000 for Summit County Public Health fees that were deducted from the township property tax settlement and $750,000 for Summit County Sheriff’s Office services, and $4,546 to the Summit County Department of Sanitary Sewer Services for charges;
• $50,000 for landscaping improvements at the Coventry Clock Tower, which will be applied for reimbursement through state Capital Improvement Funds; and
• accepting a Bureau of Workers Compensation Safety Grant of $38,236 for health scans for 10 members of the fire department.
Trustees entered into executive session for personnel matters, with no action taken after.
Coventry trustees next meet June 8 at 7 p.m. at the Coventry Township Community Center, 335 E. Willowview Drive.