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Trustees approve multiple purchases, discuss funding and levy options; votes at a glance
Summary
At its Feb. 11 meeting the Fairfield Township Board of Trustees approved a series of equipment and facility purchases, heard budget and carryover discussions and directed staff to prepare data for possible levies; the board adopted several resolutions by roll call (all three trustees present voted yes on listed items).
Fairfield Township trustees met Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, and by roll call approved multiple resolutions for equipment and building repairs, discussed long‑range budgeting and carryover needs, and directed staff to return with additional data on funding and paving priorities.
Major discussion topics: Trustees spent substantial time on the Fire Station 211 condition and options; heard vendor demonstrations for electronic message signs; and discussed the township’s budget process, a proposed carryover policy for fire/police/road funds and options for future levies to support fire operations and paving.
Budget and carryover: Administrator Kim Lipenzi and finance staff described a short‑term approach to cover payroll in several funds (fire, police, road) and urged a more formal carryover or transfer plan before 2026. Staff recommended a possible permanent transfer from the general fund to create minimum carryover for four months of payroll; trustees asked for a data‑driven cash dashboard and a five‑year projection, and requested more detailed paving and capital plans before deciding on levy timing or size.
EMS billing and equipment: Staff proposed adjusting EMS billing rates (unchanged since 2011) to bring charges closer to the regional median; trustees asked staff to coordinate with the fire chief and return a formal recommendation. The board also authorized purchases related to EMS and public safety equipment.
Votes at a glance (actions adopted Feb. 11, 2025) - Resolution 25‑25: Authorize crack‑sealing purchase, not to exceed $10,000 (fund 4903). Outcome: adopted by roll call (3–0). - Resolution 25‑26: Purchase office desk and chair for township administrator, $6,243.46 (general fund). Outcome: adopted by roll call (3–0). - Resolution 25‑27: Purchase three police vehicles from Jeff Wyler Automotive, $196,004.99 (fund 2901). Outcome: adopted by roll call (3–0). - Resolution 25‑28: Authorize administration building roof repairs, not to exceed $39,379.11 (general fund). Outcome: adopted by roll call after amendment to remove a contractor name from the title (3–0). - Resolution 25‑29: Purchase shotguns for police department, $14,089 (fund 2901). Outcome: adopted by roll call (3–0). - Resolution 25‑30: Purchase lockers for fire department (station 211), $8,060.12 (fund 2281). Outcome: adopted by roll call (3–0). - Resolution 25‑31: Purchase dump truck with plow for public works (state contract), not to exceed $2,218,322 (fund 2901); trustees authorized purchase (3–0). - Resolution 25‑32: Approve updated public‑notice method per House Bill 315 (Ohio) to allow website and social media posting in lieu of newspaper publication (effective April 2025). Outcome: adopted (3–0). - Resolution 25‑33: Purchase a staff pickup and accessories for the fire department, $75,284.08 (fund 2901). Outcome: adopted by roll call (3–0). - Resolution 25‑34: Purchase AEDs to comply with House Bill 47, $4,142.98 (fund not specified in discussion). Outcome: adopted (3–0). - Resolution 25‑36: Purchase two mobile fingerprint units for police from DataWorks Plus, $8,010 (fund 2901). Outcome: adopted (3–0). - Resolution 25‑37: Authorize the administrator to enter into an electric aggregation agreement recommended by Energy Alliances (one‑year term). Outcome: adopted (3–0).
Items held or first reads: The board received a first read (no final action) on a proposed office‑manager position and promotion for a current employee (Resolution 25‑35) and several major capital purchase items were placed on first reads to allow trustees extra time to consider procurement and financing.
Staff follow‑up: Trustees directed staff to return with: - A multi‑year cash dashboard tying projected revenues (including expected development and TIF revenues) to proposed expenditures and levy scenarios; - A paving master plan and five‑year capital schedule for equipment replacement and station projects; - Formal competitive bids and cooperative pricing for the electronic sign replacements and the proposed dump truck; and - A recommended EMS rate schedule for board consideration.
Ending: Trustees recessed into executive session on personnel matters and expected to return with staff proposals on compensation and the office‑manager position at a future meeting.
All roll‑call votes reported at the meeting were three in favor, zero opposed; the meeting transcript records Trustees Burding, Harkenmeier and McAbee present for the roll calls.
