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Canton Township places fire levy on ballot
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott McKibben, Fire Chief 330.353.0375
Chris Nichols, Trustee 330.324.7190
CANTON TOWNSHIP PLACES FIRE LEVY ON MARCH 2012 BALLOT
TO FUND FIRE STATION CONSOLIDATION, OPERATIONS
AND A COMMUNITY CENTER
Canton Township, Stark County – December 1, 2011 - Following several years of study, the Canton Township Fire Department is prepared to move forward with a plan to consolidate fire stations and reduce the size of its emergency response fleet, while continuing to improve services and decrease emergency response times. To fund this project, Canton Township residents are being asked to support a tax levy in the spring of 2012. Canton Township Trustees approved placing the levy on the March 2012 Primary Election at their Board meeting on November the 22nd.
The levy being placed on the ballot is a 4.9 mill continuous levy. If passed, a 1.0 mill levy currently being collected for fire department operations will be discontinued by the Canton Township Trustees, making the net tax increase to residents 3.9 mills. With the elimination of the 1.0 mill levy, the net cost to the average homeowner will be about $9.00 per month. This levy, if approved will not only fund the capital needs of the Canton Township Fire Department, but also the anticipated operational expenses of the department for the next 10 years.
The last new levy revenue for the Canton Township Fire Department was approved by Canton Township residents 10 years ago in 2001. In 2001 during that levy campaign, the fire department made the commitment that the 2001 levy would provided adequate resources to the department for 10 years, next year will be year #11. “The Canton Township Fire Department made a commitment to our community in 2001, met it and next year will exceed it”, stated Fire Chief Scott McKibben, “We are making that same commitment again with this levy, that these revenues will sustain the department’s financial needs for the next 10 years”.
If approved, the levy will provide the following:
- Renovate the former Amos McDannel Elementary School into a Combined Fire Station and Fire Administration Building.
- The new Amos location will bring a 24/7 staffed station within 1.5 miles of 70% of the Fire/EMS calls in that portion of the township, compared to 25% now, further reducing response times.
- Preliminary building renovations for a future Canton Township Community Center.
- Increased staffing to provide 24/7 coverage at Station 3, serving the NW/Meyers Lake portion of Canton Township, further reducing response times.
- Provide the forecasted capital and operational revenues for the department for the next 10 years.
- Reduce the number of buildings operated and maintained by the Fire Department from 6 to 3.
- With fewer stations, the department will be able to reduce our response fleet by 1 ambulance and 1 fire truck, reducing maintenance and replacement expenses.
- Fund a replacement plan over the next 10 years for older and out dated fire trucks and ambulances. All 5 ambulances in the township were purchased at the same time, 10 years ago.
Trustee Bill Smith stated, “Most of the reaction we have received from township residents to the Amos project has been very positive, they are very excited about the township renovating the former school for a new purpose, especially the development of a future Community Center.”
“One of the things we heard from our residents through our research process was not to ask for a capital levy for the Amos project and then come back again for operating monies a year or two later”, stated Trustee Chris Nichols, “so just like the last new levy approved 10 years ago, this levy is anticipated to fully fund all operations of the Canton Township Fire Department for the next 10 years.”
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