MONTVILLE – Compliance with stormwater runoff regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency come with a cost of several thousand dollars for Montville Township.

Montville Township Trustees got a better understanding of the costs after a presentation by Jeff Van Loon, director of the Medina County Soil and Water Conservation District, who will help townships comply with the new regulations.

EPA informed Montville officials early this year that population increases reported in the 2010 Census have made sections of the township subject to the stormwater runoff rules that govern municipalities and other townships with dense populations.

As a result, Montville must take steps to ensure stormwater discharges are as unpolluted as possible. The discharges are produced by runoff from paved streets, rooftops, parking lots and construction sites when it rains or snows.

Complying with the rules requires a written plan on what measures the township will employ to prevent things like polluted runoff from construction sites, illicit discharge into sewers and ditches and pollutants being released into water runoff at commercial sites.

Last month township trustees asked to be added to an existing stormwater management plan created for the county rather than write their own plan to comply with the EPA regulations. However, the Medina County Highway Engineer’s department that writes the plan and compiles the data for EPA reports will be charging Montville $2,900 a year for the service.

Another requirement of compliance is public education and outreach to inform residents and businesses of the new stormwater runoff rules and how to comply. The Soil and Water Conservation District will assist Montville with that aspect of compliance, but once again for a price.

Van Loon informed trustees the annual cost of producing literature, videos and speakers at schools and public events would be $4,000.

Fire contract

Township trustees approved a new contract with the City of Medina to provide fire protection services in the township. The agreement was still subject to final approval by Medina City Council, but is expected to go into effect Jan. 1 and stay in place for the next four years.

Police Chief and Safety Director Terry Grice said the new contract does not contain any major changes from the agreement currently in place. Terms of the contract call for Montville to pay the Medina Fire Department an annual stand-by-fee of $130,000 plus $100,000 a year to help pay the cost of staffing Fire Station No. 3 from 4 p.m. to midnight.

Staffing a second shift at the station on Wadsworth Road just north of the Montville border was begun last year and is believed to have reduced response times in both the township and the southern part of the city.

Part of past agreements with the city have included the township purchasing two of several emergency vehicles operated by the Medina Fire Department. The current agreement calls for Montville to replace those vehicles when they are retired. Grice said that is not expected for at least 10 years.

Police exam

Trustees authorized Grice to partner with Hinckley, Brunswick Hills and Medina Township in conducting a police entrance exam Dec. 29 for candidates wishing to become officers in one of those four townships. Grice said conducting the test jointly will reduce each township’s share of administrative costs for conducting the test, which could be up to $2,000.

Grice said Montville doesn’t have any openings in its police department, but a current list of candidates is useful if an opening should occur later in the year. Applicants wishing to take the test should notify Montville police by Dec. 23. There is a $40 application fee.

Road levy

Township trustees have requested the Medina County auditor to estimate the tax revenue that would be generated by a 1-mill road levy and an 0.75-mill levy. Trustees are considering place a road levy on the ballot in the May 2 primary election.

Trustees have asked township votes to approve a 1-mill road levy three times in the last two years, but it was rejected by voters each time.