Chester Government Update
The Chester Township Board of Trustees met in a special meeting at 6:30 a.m. June 9 to continue a review of the 2024 temporary appropriations...
The Chester Township Board of Trustees met in a special meeting at 6:30 a.m. June 9 to continue a review of the 2024 temporary appropriations. The review included a forecast of the funds through 2030, upcoming renewal levies, anticipated needs for new monies for the police department fund and the possibility of establishing reserve funds. Chairman Craig Richter led the discussion, stressing the need to rethink the budgeting process to provide longer term stability to the police, road and fire departments.
He then discussed the need to communicate to the public that the renewal levies collected are based on historical valuations. The example given was the 1980 2.5-mill police levy that collected around $363,000. If this was able to collect at today’s values, it would bring in $1.3 million. The issue is simple – while expenses increase, funding the levies does not increase.
A 2024 shortfall for the police due to tight budgeting, lack of effective projections and escalating expenses left the .5-mill levy falling short of providing the police fund with long-term stability. Richter presented several options with new levies and suggested the newest .5-mill levy should be allowed to expire.
The board then discussed the two fire department renewal levies and whether to place them on the fall and spring ballots. Trustees agreed that both should be placed on the fall ballot, which will save the township thousands of dollars in election expenses.
Township Administrator Mark Purchase said he will begin preparing certificates of need for both the renewal levies and the new levy. The certificates, if passed by a trustee vote, will be placed on the fall ballot for a public vote.
Trustees then discussed the cost and management benefits of continuing levies and establishing reserve funds. Chester demonstrates strong support for the township services by continuing to pass the renewal levies. However, converting five-year renewals to continuing levies, the township can save tens of thousands of dollars in election expenses over the years. Establishment of reserve funds in each department will help with township buildings in need of overdue repair, replacement of age infrastructure and equipment, in addition to a legal requirement to have a minimum balance equal to 90 days of expenses to start each year. Reserve funds will lead to a better management decision of increasing and unforeseen expenses.
Other discussions included funding allowed through HB62 and the permissive motor vehicle fee which would be used to support the road department. Hawken, a private school in Chester Township, does not pay any property tax, but does receive the benefit of township services. Also discussed was the possibility that Hawken might consider a payment in lieu of tax similar to the way Laurel School does.
Everyone agreed the importance of stable funding to sustain current operations. It would help with recruitment and retention for fire, police and road department employees.
With bids more than $200,000 and no action, the pickleball bids were automatically rejected. The Pickleball Committee will reassess the project.
The board of trustees meeting on June 15 began at 5 p.m. The earlier time allowed all the department heads to join in the continued review of the 2024 temporary appropriations and to continue the discussions of a new police levy and changing the two renewal fire department levies to continuing. Although the board and department heads agreed on the approach that will lead to longer term stability for the Chester Township services, no formalized motion was voted on.
After approving prior meeting minutes, trustees and Fire Chief William Shaw discussed water sources for firefighting. Although the fire department has access to fire hydrants outside of the township, reliance for firefighting is through dry hydrants in ponds throughout Chester. Shaw is in the process of updating agreements with residents who have ponds on their properties with dry hydrants. The agreement allows access by the Chester Fire Department and allows the department to maintain and use those ponds for emergencies. The township will also be looking for new locations to increase water sources and coverage.
Purchase then stated that the demolition of the Henry House has been completed and the township will be fully reimbursed through a grant from the Ohio Department of Development.
Trustees then made several motions, including one to sell or dispose of unneeded obsolete equipment and one to donate the statue of a U.S. soldier located in front of Chester Police Department. The statue was donated to the Chardon VFW Post in conjunction with a Boy Scout troop. They will repair and maintain it at the VFW Hall.
Moving on to police business, an after the fact motion to purchase a 2023 Dodge Charge police vehicle was approved. Although budgets are approved early in the year, it was explained that individual appropriations still require board approval to properly encumber funds and this should be done in advance of any purchase with an exception for emergencies.
Discussions continued regarding the possibility of rezoning Fire Station No. 2 from residential to industrial, including the property to the immediate north and south of the township property, and its possible sale. The sale as industrial will generate more short-term revenue, although annual tax receipts are less than for residential. Possible sale of the property and discussions of the poor condition of the aging road department buildings turned the discussion to long-range land use plans and the possibility of a new town center. Purchase will be meeting with an architect to get general ideas and see if the old Chester School site could be used for some township departments and vehicle storage.
Trustees and Fiscal Officer Patricia Jarrett discussed their anticipated participation in the upcoming Kiwanis July 4th parade and said they will be volunteering at a Geauga County Booth at the Great Geauga County Fair.
After approval of the financial transactions, the board went into an executive session. Upon returning to public session, no action was taken and the meeting was closed.
Submitted by Craig S, Richter, Chester Township Trustee
