Springfield officials reviewing road levy

SPRINGFIELD — With a 1.5-mill road levy expiring this year, the Springfield Board of Trustees approved legislation May 25 requesting the Summit County Fiscal Officer determine the revenue that would be generated by a renewal or a replacement of the levy.
Trustee Dean Young stated the board would not make a decision about placing a levy on the ballot until hearing back from the Fiscal Office.
The township’s requests to the Fiscal Office include the renewal of the 1.5-mill levy; a renewal with a 0.5-mill increase; and a renewal with a 0.75-mill increase; as well as replacement levy options that include a 1.5-mill levy and a 2-mill levy.
Also at the meeting, Springfield Police Department officers Michael Roberts and Shawn Brady were promoted to the rank of sergeant and trustees recognized retiring Sgt. Eric East, who has been with the department for 28 years.
Police Chief Jack Simone said Roberts started his career in Springfield in December 2016 and along with his patrol assignments he has handled impounded vehicles, the sale of used equipment on government auction sites and equipping new police cruisers.
Simone said Brady also began his career in Springfield in December 2016 and is now the K-9 handler for his partner Brodie, as well as a tactical member of Metro SWAT.
Simone stated East served in the U.S. Navy from 1986-93, joined the Springfield Police Department as a reserve police officer in 1995 and was promoted to sergeant in November 2006. East served as public information officer, a detective, a member of Metro SWAT and overseeing recruiting and training of new officers.
Simone recounted several notable cases in East’s career including saving a person from a mobile home fire, the capture of two bank robbers, arresting three suspects involved in seven area burglaries, saving a driver and his passengers parked on a railroad track from an oncoming train and a store robbery and kidnapping.
“You have had a tremendous impact on this department and this community and have played an integral part in the success of our department,” Simone said.
East thanked the community for its support of the police department.
“You have always had our back,” East said. “We can’t solve all problems, but hopefully we have made some kind of impact.”
Trustees also approved:
• amending the purchase contract for two fire department vehicles from $87,000 to $100,721 due to a increase in the cost of one of them; and
• nuisance abatement orders for 529 James Ave., 1025 Onondago Trail and 1840 Orchard Lane and requiring “refuse, junk and other debris” be removed within seven days, with failure to do so resulting in having the items removed by township officials for a cost certified as a lien against the property.
Trustees requested Fire Chief Vic Wincik prepare a five-year budget forecast with future levy modifications and to present it at the June 15 trustees work session.
Trustees next meet June 8 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, located at 2459 Canfield Road. The meeting may be viewed through a link at springfieldtownship.us under “News Flash” and “View All.”