Trustees approve hires, budget, purchase orders and move to place fire levy on November ballot

Morgan Township trustees meeting Feb. 24, 2025 — The Morgan Township trustees approved a series of routine and operational items Monday night, including hiring two firefighter paramedics, accepting a firefighter resignation, authorizing warrants and purchase orders, adopting the township’s 2025 permanent appropriation budget and passing a resolution to place a fire levy renewal on the November 2025 ballot.

The vote package affects operations across the township’s fire department, road department and fiscal office. Trustees moved quickly through most items and voted unanimously on the recorded motions.

Trustees approved the minutes from the meeting dated Feb. 10, 2025. They then approved a payment listing dated Feb. 11–24, 2025 — payment number 131-2025 through 169-2025 and warrant numbers 13068 through 13083 — for a total of $109,571.89 (as recited at the meeting).

The board approved two hires for the fire department: firefighter paramedic Cody Swall and firefighter paramedic Ed Shannon, both with an effective start date of March 2, 2025 and a stated rate of $22.50 per hour. The board also accepted the resignation of firefighter paramedic Jeremy Keane, effective Feb. 18, 2025.

Trustees approved two purchase orders for the Road Department: $15,000 to Morton Salt for 50 tons of salt to refill the salt barn and $12,000 to Craftco Incorporated for six pallets of crack-sealing material.

Fiscal officer Tiena presented the permanent appropriation resolution for 2025. The trustees approved the permanent appropriation budget to be submitted to the Butler County Auditor’s Office. The fiscal officer reported a total carryover balance available for appropriations of $2,062,434.74 and total amounts from all sources available for expenditures of $2,020,281.00, for a combined total available plus balances of $4,082,715.74 (figures as read at the meeting).

The board voted to place a renewal of the township fire levy on the November 2025 ballot; meeting discussion indicated county officials advised a resolution is required to put the renewal on the ballot. Trustees also voted to rescind Resolution 012-2025 (enrollment in LCNB Bank’s Insured Cash Sweep program) to allow time for further review by the county prosecutor and the state auditor, per the trustee who moved the rescission.

After an executive session, trustees approved a personnel action to change Chrissy Hill from full-time to part-time assistant fiscal officer, effective March 2, 2025.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded at the meeting): - Approve minutes (02/10/2025): Motion approved (vote recorded as yes by trustees in attendance). - Approve warrants/payment listing (02/11/2025–02/24/2025) totaling $109,571.89: Motion approved (votes recorded in meeting). - Hire firefighter paramedic Cody Swall (effective 03/02/2025; $22.50/hr): Motion approved (roll-call confirmations recorded). - Hire firefighter paramedic Ed Shannon (effective 03/02/2025; $22.50/hr): Motion approved (roll-call confirmations recorded). - Accept resignation of firefighter paramedic Jeremy Keane (effective 02/18/2025): Motion approved. - Approve PO $15,000 to Morton Salt (50 tons): Motion approved. - Approve PO $12,000 to Craftco Incorporated (six pallets sealer): Motion approved. - Adopt permanent appropriation budget for 2025 (figures as read): Motion approved. - Rescind Resolution 012-2025 (LCNB ICS enrollment): Motion approved (to allow further review). - Approve change of employment status for Chrissy Hill to part-time assistant fiscal officer (effective 03/02/2025): Motion approved.

The board convened an executive session under state statute authority for matters required to be kept confidential and for consideration of public-employee personnel matters; it returned to open session and recorded the Chrissy Hill personnel resolution. The meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m.

Less critical agenda items and longer-term projects discussed at the meeting are covered in separate articles, including road projects, park improvements and zoning matters.