Norwich Township trustees approve safety equipment purchases and outline 2026 capital priorities

Norwich Township trustees approved multiple safety and technology purchases and reviewed broad 2026 capital priorities at a special planning meeting on Oct. 28, 2025.

Vice Chairman Rick Tidd motioned and Trustee Sonny Cantrell seconded the board’s unanimous approvals for several 2025 capital purchases, including 18 fire helmets and four MSA facepieces for $9,150 from Fire Safety Services Inc.; a $3,200 payment to IT Made Real, LLC for services at Station 84; six station alerting speakers for $4,140 from All Secured Security Services; and 13 sets of turnout gear from Phoenix Safety Outfitters for $66,833 (motions recorded as #251028.01–#251028.04). Chairman Greg Young and both trustees voted yes on each motion.

Fire Chief Dave Baird presented a series of proposed 2026 capital needs for the department. Items described included $15,000 in building maintenance (interior and exterior painting at Station 83), roughly $57,000 in EMS equipment replacements (AEDs, ventilators, radios and training mannequins), $6,500 for additional training mannequins, and $13,500 for fire‑prevention tools including Blazestack software and new inspection cameras. Baird also outlined plans to replace 20 air packs this year (with an additional 19 next year), to upgrade thermal imagers and rescue tools, and to plan for replacement of Rescue 81 in 2030 at an estimated cost of $1,250,000, with the board asked to secure a purchase order in 2026.

On fiscal matters the trustees unanimously passed a resolution accepting amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and directing necessary tax levies to the county auditor (Motion #251028.05). Fiscal Officer Greg Tarazi provided an informational update on a House Bill related to property taxes; the minutes do not specify bill language or a next step beyond the information provided.

Robbie Thomas, the cemetery sexton and road superintendent, outlined cemetery and roads capital requests including three lawn mowers ($41,000), two John Deere Gators ($25,000), a proposed $500,000 allocation for 2026 road projects, a $70,000 columbarium addition, a $120,000 replacement of walking paths with concrete or pavers in the cemetery expansion area, a $5,000 camera replacement for the maintenance building, and a proposed $50,000 architectural and bidding budget to develop a committal structure. Thomas also proposed including indigent‑burial funding annually to cover costs not reimbursed by the State of Ohio.

Township Administrator Jamie Fisher recommended renewing the Township’s employee health plan with Medical Mutual of Ohio for 2026. Fisher told the board she had shopped the market and the renewal — which removes co‑pays for some claims management and retains current dental, vision and life coverage — carried a 17% rate increase to $2,911,533. Trustee Rick Tidd moved to approve the renewal and the motion passed unanimously (Motion recorded as #251028.06 in the minutes).

Fisher also reviewed planned IT and facilities spending: a three‑year Mitel support and software assurance agreement ($12,605.64), planned replacement of firewalls/switches/access points (~$11,000), cybersecurity training and phishing exercises (~$11,520), and replacement of 210 meeting chairs and 35 tables (total project cost $135,000, to be split with the City of Hilliard). She recommended budgeting $500,000 for the 2026 Hilliard police contract for unincorporated Norwich Township areas (the minutes list the current contract at $470,973.65). Fisher noted Franklin County EMA advised that the Township is financially responsible for tornado siren replacement/repair and recommended adding an annual $65,000 item for siren costs and OTARMA insurance coverage.

On community matters, the trustees approved a request to allow a resident to replace three right‑of‑way trees on The Old Poste Road with a maple tree (Motion #251028.06), discussed resident requests about the Timberbrook sign and tabled the Timberbrook funding question to January or February (Motion #251028.07), and agreed to consider participation in a state work group on group homes after the Nov. 4 elections. The meeting adjourned at 12:33 PM (Motion #251028.08).

Votes at a glance - Motion #251028.01 — Purchase 18 helmets and 4 MSA facepieces: Tidd/second Cantrell; Yeas: Tidd, Young, Cantrell; outcome: approved. - Motion #251028.02 — Pay IT Made Real, LLC $3,200: Tidd/second Cantrell; outcome: approved. - Motion #251028.03 — Add six station speakers $4,140: Cantrell/second Tidd; outcome: approved. - Motion #251028.04 — Purchase 13 sets turnout gear $66,833: Tidd/second Cantrell; outcome: approved. - Motion #251028.05 — Resolution accepting amounts and rates and certifying levies: Tidd/second Cantrell; outcome: approved. - Motion #251028.06 — (1) Allow tree replacement in ROW: Tidd/second Cantrell; outcome: approved. (2) Medical Mutual renewal recorded in minutes as #251028.06: Tidd/second Cantrell; outcome: approved. - Motion #251028.07 — Table Timberbrook sign funding to January/February: Tidd/second Cantrell; outcome: approved. - Motion #251028.08 — Adjourn at 12:33 PM: Tidd/second Cantrell; outcome: approved.

What’s next Trustees did not adopt a final 2026 budget at this meeting; the session served to approve several 2025 capital purchases and to set priorities and line items for the 2026 budget process. Staff will bring formal budget documents and any contract figures (notably the Hilliard police contract and the Rescue 81 procurement schedule) back to the board for future action.