Road levy to be on Montville ballot – again
Township trustees put 1-mill levy back on ballot in May
Montville Township Trustees (from left) Sally Albrecht, Jeff Brandon, Ron Bischof and Fiscal Officer Mary Pawlowski discuss putting a road levy on the ballot again. Photo by GLENN WOJCIAK
MONTVILLE – Township trustees moved to place a 1-mill road levy back on the May 2 primary ballot after briefly considering asking voters to approve an 0.75-mill levy instead.
Certification from the Medina County Auditor’s Office of Montville tax valuation indicates a 1-mill levy could generate about $398,000 a year to repair and maintain township roads. An 0.75-mill levy would generate about $298,000.
Trustees decided the lower millage would not generate enough revenue considering the Medina County Highway Engineer’s Office surveyed township roads last fall and estimated township roads currently needed about $650,000 worth of repair work. They voted unanimously Dec. 21 to put a 1-mill road levy on the primary election ballot.
“We’ve done a good job of maintaining roads in the past, but costs have gone up and we just don’t have enough money to keep up,” said Chris Kosman, the township service director and roads supervisor.
“Driving around town, it’s clear our roads need some attention,” said Township Trustee Jeff Brandon. “If we don’t do something more to maintain them, they’re going to continue to deteriorate and cost us more in the long run.”
However, selling the road levy to voters won’t be an easy task. Township voters have already rejected a 1-mill road levy proposed by the township three times in the last two years. Each time the issue was on the ballot, it was rejected by narrow margins.
“It may go down again, but we have to keep trying,” said Montville Fiscal Officer Mary Pawlowski. “I know some people say we have been spending too much money, but I’m convinced we did the right thing with the new buildings we approved. We built them at the right time when interest rates were low and they will benefit the township for a long time after we are no longer in office.”
Montville is one of the few townships in the area that does not already have a road levy in place to help pay for road repairs. In addition, Montville has 52 miles of township roads and streets to maintain, considerably more than most other townships in the county.
LST bill
Trustees also approved payment of $22,000 to Medina Hospital for emergency ambulance service in October. The Life Support Team stationed at the hospital made 52 runs to Montville homes and businesses in October. Trustee Jeff Brandon said the 52 runs was an unusually high number for one month.
LST made 415 runs into Montville through the first 10 months of the year. Terms of a contract between the township and hospital call for Montville to pay for the emergency service based on the number of runs LST makes there.
Certification from the Medina County Auditor’s Office of Montville tax valuation indicates a 1-mill levy could generate about $398,000 a year to repair and maintain township roads. An 0.75-mill levy would generate about $298,000.
Trustees decided the lower millage would not generate enough revenue considering the Medina County Highway Engineer’s Office surveyed township roads last fall and estimated township roads currently needed about $650,000 worth of repair work. They voted unanimously Dec. 21 to put a 1-mill road levy on the primary election ballot.
“We’ve done a good job of maintaining roads in the past, but costs have gone up and we just don’t have enough money to keep up,” said Chris Kosman, the township service director and roads supervisor.
“Driving around town, it’s clear our roads need some attention,” said Township Trustee Jeff Brandon. “If we don’t do something more to maintain them, they’re going to continue to deteriorate and cost us more in the long run.”
However, selling the road levy to voters won’t be an easy task. Township voters have already rejected a 1-mill road levy proposed by the township three times in the last two years. Each time the issue was on the ballot, it was rejected by narrow margins.
“It may go down again, but we have to keep trying,” said Montville Fiscal Officer Mary Pawlowski. “I know some people say we have been spending too much money, but I’m convinced we did the right thing with the new buildings we approved. We built them at the right time when interest rates were low and they will benefit the township for a long time after we are no longer in office.”
Montville is one of the few townships in the area that does not already have a road levy in place to help pay for road repairs. In addition, Montville has 52 miles of township roads and streets to maintain, considerably more than most other townships in the county.
LST bill
Trustees also approved payment of $22,000 to Medina Hospital for emergency ambulance service in October. The Life Support Team stationed at the hospital made 52 runs to Montville homes and businesses in October. Trustee Jeff Brandon said the 52 runs was an unusually high number for one month.
LST made 415 runs into Montville through the first 10 months of the year. Terms of a contract between the township and hospital call for Montville to pay for the emergency service based on the number of runs LST makes there.
