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Austintown trustees approve Safe Haven baby box, authorize drone purchase and back public‑safety grants
Summary
Trustees approved installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box funded by anonymous donations and opioid settlement funds, authorized up to $250,000 for Skydio drones to be reimbursed by ODOT, and moved forward on police equipment and staffing matters at their April 6 meeting.
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio — The Austintown Township Board of Trustees on April 6 approved a package of public‑safety measures that includes funding for a Safe Haven Baby Box at Fire Station No. 1, authorization to buy drones for first‑responder use and continued investment in police equipment and staffing.
Trustee Robert Santos moved and Trustee Bruce Shepas seconded approval of two anonymous donations — $25,000 and $600 — designated to establish and maintain a Safe Haven Baby Box. The board also approved a formal agreement with Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc., an Indiana nonprofit, to provide one Safe Haven box at Fire Station No. 1. The board’s resolution states it “finds that there is a connection between the services provided by this program and the harms caused by the opioid epidemic.”
The trustees authorized the Township Administrator, under R.C. 505.032, to execute a Skydio quote not to exceed $250,000 to purchase drones for first‑responder use; the purchase is expected to be reimbursed by the State of Ohio through the ODOT Drone First Responder Pilot Program. The board set a target date of June 1, 2026, to have the drones operational.
Chief Schertzer presented March fire department statistics and said the department has applied for ODOT and Ohio EMS grants to support technology and emergency medical services. Chief Delmont reported March statistics for the police and communications departments and said the police have applied to the Ohio Law Enforcement Body Armor Program for 27 ballistic vests, which carry an expected five‑year service life. Trustees accepted the resignation of Dispatcher Danielle Yuhas (effective April 6) and approved hiring Lily Boylen, with a start date of April 13, 2026.
All measures cited above passed by roll call vote with Trustee Monica Deavers, Trustee Robert Santos and Trustee Bruce Shepas voting yes.
The Safe Haven agreement specifies that any costs not covered by the $25,000 donation will be paid from Opioid Settlement Funds (non‑tax revenue). The board’s statement linking the box to opioid‑related harms was part of the formal motion adopting the SHBB agreement.
The meeting also recognized Dispatchers Week (April 12–18) and included routine departmental reports and grant application updates. The board set no new tax or long‑term funding commitments for these purchases beyond the specified reimbursements and the use of available settlement funds.
