LIVERPOOL TOWNSHIP – Trustee Dennis Giambroni said during Tuesday’s meeting of the Liverpool Township Board of Trustees the board needs to start getting education in line for the property tax issue and discuss how to educate the public on matter.

Social media and a town hall meeting were possibilities to be considered.

Trustee Mike Bahen said the trustees attended a session at the Ohio Township Association Winter Conference recently held in Columbus at which Gov. Mike DeWine spoke on the issue. Bahen noted the uncertainty that was present at the conference and that there are no plans in place anywhere on what townships can do to compensate for the income that would be lost if property taxes are abolished, with many townships losing up to 65% of their revenue.

Bahen noted from an information sheet he obtained during the conference that 7.2% of all property taxes collected statewide are from townships. Property taxes are the primary funding source for core services, and there is no identified replacement funding.

The trustees will continue working on a plan to get information regarding the impacts of no property taxes out to the residents.

Police Chief Jarod Kinemond had no report to give, but requested and was granted permission to take several online public records training courses due to changes in the laws regarding police departments and public records. He is looking for a free course, but if he is unsuccessful in finding a free one, the trustees granted permission for him to take the three courses he found at a cost of $190, $180 and $150.

Fire Chief Jacob Russell, working to fix deficiencies found within the fire department, said some of the department’s air bottles have been sent out for testing and when they come back, more will go.

Russell said squad 24 had a wiring issue which was fixed in house, tanker 22 has a solenoid issue, which will also be fixed in house, and the generator at Station 8 is not working.

The MARCS radios the fire department purchased through a grant have arrived, and Russell said he is currently getting prices on forestry hoses and equipment which will be purchased primarily through a grant.

The department received a $1,200 training reimbursement grant.

Road Foreman Chris Bosworth had nothing to report, but noted everything was good at the shop and the lettering and everything on the new trucks look good.

Fiscal Officer Shirley Flati said she is performing day-to-day activities, is still working on year-end notes, compiling the documents for the 2024-2025 audit and has filed the mandatory yearly Equitable Sharing Program year filing with Kinemond.

Flati also said correspondence received by the township included a letter from Bosworth notifying the township that he is eligible for his 15-year longevity pay starting on Feb. 7, the 2026 Chip and Seal and 2026 Road Reclaimer Program paperwork from Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson, notifications from the Buckeye Water District of its finance and board meetings, and an email from Deb Dawson notifying the trustees of the upcoming Columbiana County Township Association meeting.

During the old business portion of the meeting, Giambroni noted something needed done with a rat-infested house owned by Tonya Roberts at 415 9th St. Bahen said a neighbor reported his dog catching four rats that came into his yard and there have been other reports of them spreading out. Giambroni said the health department said the property isn’t in its jurisdiction and it’s not in the township’s jurisdiction.

There was no new business and no one to speak during public portion.

The trustees approved the meeting minutes from the Feb. 3 meeting, payment of bills totaling $67,000.84 and a resolution to supplement appropriations for the Road and Bridge Fund in the amount of $700 for the Travel and Meeting Line.

The Liverpool Township Board of Trustees meets every other Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the township administration building, 2485 Boring Lane, East Liverpool. The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 3.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com