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New trustees Bennett sworn in; Trustee Young honored as board warns fire levy is critical
Summary
At the Ross Township work session, Andrea and Donald Bennett were sworn in as trustees, the board honored Trustee Young for decades of service, and trustees stressed the importance of an upcoming fire levy that they said is essential to sustain the fire department.
At a work session on Nov. 19, 2025, Ross Township swore in newly elected trustees Andrea and Donald Bennett and paused for an extended recognition of Trustee Young’s long service to the township.
Fiscal officer Julie Smith administered the oath to the newly elected trustees for terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026 and running through Jan. 31, 2029. The board took photographs and completed customary ceremonial items. "I, do solemnly promise and swear ... that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States ... and that I will faithfully, honestly and impartially perform and discharge the duties of the Ross Township trustee," the oath recited at the bench.
Earlier in the meeting the board and other speakers outlined Trustee Young’s multi-decade record of volunteer and elected service — joining the fire department in 1978, serving as life-squad captain and chief, purchasing new modular life squads, coaching youth sports and serving on the board for multiple terms. Trustee Young accepted the recognition and reflected on his service. "It's been 40 to 50 years. Sheesh," he said, according to the transcript, and warned against certain large-scale economic districts he described as harmful to the township.
Board members discussed housekeeping appointments to be formalized at the Jan. 5, 2026 regular meeting, including nominations for president, vice president and trustees to represent the township on volunteer firefighters' and police dependency boards. Trustees identified likely nominees (Bennett and Hatton were mentioned in the discussion) and said formal appointments will be made by resolution at the next regular meeting.
The board also discussed the need to pass a fire levy next year. Meeting remarks warned that if the levy does not pass, the township could face a shortfall that would leave the fire department without sufficient funds; the transcript records the warning but does not include a formal motion on the levy during this session.
The work session adjourned following unanimous roll call votes. The board set its next regular meeting for Jan. 5, 2026.
