ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP – The St. Clair Township trustees Monday adopted a resolution of necessity, requesting the county auditor to certify certain tax valuation information in anticipation of levying a tax in excess of the 10-mill limitation.

This is the third time the trustees have discussed a potential new levy for the police department at the request of Police Chief Brian McKenzie to help with equipment, salaries and operating expenses.

Trustee Robert Swickard said this does not mean a levy will be placed on a ballot; right now, the trustees are just gathering information about it.

If the decision is made to put a police levy on the ballot, it would be considered a new levy. Fire Chief Dave McCoy asked if that would mean a tax increase, and Swickard said since it would be a new levy, yes.

The trustees also adopted a resolution for the police department to renew the Lexipol Policy Management for law enforcement updates, training logs and more at a cost of $13,494.

Trustee James Sabatini II was nominated from the three trustees to serve on the Columbiana County 911 Program Review.

Road Foreman Scott Barrett will be retiring from his position effective Feb. 20. The township has not posted the position internally or externally yet.

McCoy provided the trustees with a rundown of the CVFD total calls for the year. The department responded to 388 calls for structure, car and brush fires, alarms, motor vehicles accidents, search and rescue, haz-mat and more.

McCoy also said ISO rating will begin soon, and they need Glenmoor Volunteer Fire Department to be on board with them for the rating and that the department had over 1,000 hours of training last year and will begin some advance training courses soon.

He also noted the department’s new water rescue boat is available to police and fire for any mutual aid assistance on/in water.

Bills totaling $95,734.22, blanket certificates totaling $13,801.68 and purchase orders totaling $28,589.21 were approved for payment.

St. Clair Township government offices will be closed on Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

The St. Clair Township Board of Trustees meets every other Monday at 4p.m. at the St. Clair Township Administration Building. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 26.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com