Trustees approve equipment purchases, festival license and 2026 tax budget; declare property a public nuisance

The West Chester Township Board of Trustees on July 8 approved a series of administrative and procurement items, authorized a license for the 2025 Voices of America Country Music Festival, adopted the township’s high‑level 2026 tax budget and declared a property on the agenda a public nuisance.

Staff presented items 5–11, which included multiple equipment and service requisitions. Miss Brown explained the Telestaff Schedule Cloud database item — previously approved at $10,000 — will be refunded by the vendor because the township’s legacy data requires rebuilding rather than a direct migration. Other items explained in the packet and discussed at the meeting included a requested $21,175 purchase from Bound Tree Medical LLC for a device to aid intubation, an $18,583 increase related to truck repairs to address cylinder‑lining issues, and an unbudgeted $16,387 HVAC replacement for a station that failed unexpectedly. Trustees moved to approve items 5–11 and the motion was carried by roll call.

The fire chief and trustees discussed operational equipment: a 100‑foot ladder typically reaches about four to five stories depending on setback and angle, and the chief said the department does not have an on‑board suction device for choking and currently relies on visual removal tools such as McGill forceps when necessary. The chief described the laryngoscope/camera as a training and intubation aid and noted potential value for restaurants and households to have bystander devices, but no new policy requirement for businesses was adopted.

Miss Brown presented item 12, a license agreement between West Chester Township and Further Festivals LLC to host the 2025 Voices of America Country Music Festival on township property Aug. 7–11, 2025, with the township administrator authorized to make nonsubstantive edits with law director approval. The board approved the license agreement on a motion and roll call.

The trustees then considered Resolution 19‑2025 adopting the 2026 tax budget, described as a high‑level estimate of revenue to begin the budget cycle with the Butler County auditor. The board moved, seconded and approved the tax budget resolution.

A trustee moved that staff declare a listed property a public nuisance under the Ohio Revised Code, direct staff to arrange for removal and to monitor the property for 90 days for continued compliance, and add a 25% administrative charge to the contractor fee; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call.

Votes at a glance: • Motion to recess to executive session for property and pending/imminent litigation purposes — motion made and approved by roll call (see meeting record). • Approval of meeting minutes (06/24/2025) — motion moved and approved by roll call. • Approval of payment of bills (06/14/2025–06/27/2025) — motion moved and approved by roll call. • Approval of items 5–11 (requisitions, equipment, repairs) — motion moved and approved by roll call; notable line items discussed: Telestaff refund of $10,000; Bound Tree Medical LLC request ~$21,175; truck repair increase ~$18,583; HVAC replacement ~$16,387. • Approval of license agreement with Further Festivals LLC for the 2025 Voices of America Country Music Festival (Aug. 7–11) — motion moved and approved by roll call. • Approval of Resolution 19‑2025 adopting the 2026 tax budget — motion moved and approved by roll call. • Motion to declare a property a public nuisance and direct removal/90‑day monitoring with a 25% administrative charge — motion moved and approved by roll call.

The board completed agenda items and adjourned the meeting.

No formal controversy or contested votes were recorded in the transcript; motions were moved, seconded and approved by roll call as noted.