In four months, Springfield Township voters will be asked to lend their support to a levy for police protection services.
At the January 18 meeting, the trustees unanimously approved the placement of a 4.2- mill, five-year property tax levy on the May ballot.
If approved, it will generate $2.9 million per year for the creation of a police force dedicated to meeting the needs of township residents, and will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $147 annually.
Board president Bob Bethel explained the action was prompted by Lucas County Sheriff Mike Navarre who announced that in January 2023 the county would no longer provide law enforcement service at the level the township is currently paying – $300,000 in 2021.
That decision forced the trustees to re-examine the township’s policing needs. With crime on the increase in the area, Mr. Bethel acknowledged, “This is something we needed to do.”
He pointed out recent tragedies involving Jameshia Taylor, 28, of Banquot Way, who allegedly stabbed two of her children, and the shooting and subsequent death of Gerald Mayes, 27, in his car at the intersection of Holland-Sylvania and Perrysburg-Holland roads.
“Considering these recent unfortunate activities in the township as well as the region, we believe the time to act is now,” he said. “This is not the time to say ‘no’ to this effort to provide police services we need when the township is averaging 1,100 calls for service per month.”
Mr. Bethel said the trustees do not take lightly the move to place a levy on the ballot.
“We know people don’t like to pay additional taxes, but we believe by working with the sheriff, we can provide quality services for half the cost of having our own police department,” he added.
Upon voter support of the levy, the township will enter into an agreement with the sheriff’s department that will greatly expand current services.
The agreement, which would begin in 2023 would provide three deputies on duty in the township 24 hours a day; an assigned community resource officer; directed patrols; enhanced reporting; additional accountability to the township, and community involvement.
“In the coming weeks, we will have more on the plan which we think will serve township taxpayers the best,” said Trustee Andy Glenn. “I’m really excited about this.”
Trustee Tom Anderson Jr. agreed, “It’s long overdue in our township.”
Mr. Glenn admitted the township is underserved by the current agreement. “We are understaffed.”
Jerry Meyers of Wilderness Trail believes something needs to be done. He addressed the trustees about ongoing thefts in his neighborhood.
“There is a white diesel truck cruising St. James Woods removing catalytic converters,” he said
In his report to the trustees, Sheriff’s Lieutenant John Leach said the department is aware of the problem. “Catalytic converter thefts are plaguing northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.”
He urged residents to notify the department if they see anything out of turn or obtain a license plate number of a suspicious vehicle in the neighborhood.
However, the lieutenant said deputies can’t always respond to notices of suspicious activity, adding, “calls are taken in order of priority.”
But residents should still call so the sheriff has a record of the problem. “I can direct deputies to go through the neighborhood when they have more time,” the lieutenant said.
As plans for the levy move forward, Mr. Bethel said a committee, Citizens for a Safer Springfield, has been organized to disseminate information.
The committee will host public meetings to explain the plan in more detail and answer questions residents may have.
“We look forward to engaging with the community on this very important issue,” Mr. Bethel added.
In the meantime, they said residents may contact any of the trustees or administrator Mike Hampton with questions.
Mr. Bethel said the committee will develop a website as well.
In a related police matter, Lt. Leach provided an update on extra officers who patrolled the retail area on Airport Highway between Holland-Sylvania and Holloway roads between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. “We had 81 incidents or
“We had 81 incidents or contacts,” he said, noting that is a reduction from 114 in 2020.
“We are doing our job. We want to see those numbers going down,” he added.
The calls included 24 property checks, nine shopliftings and six suspicious persons.
The lieutenant said he received a lot of positive feedback from residents who appreciated the department safeguarding them during the holidays.
The additional patrols were paid for with funds from the joint economic development zone (JEDZ) that covers the commercial district.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Learned that the township will receive a $90,000 reimbursement from Lucas County for stormwater utilities.
•Heard from Andy Hohlbein, director of public services, that lower than expected snowfall this winter has resulted in the township using just 72 tons of salt and 4,000 gallons of brine to date.
•Paid bills from January 5 to 18 totaling $90,183.
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, February 7, at the township meeting, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. The meeting also can be viewed via the livestream at springfield township.net.
