Welcome to Suffield Township

On Tuesday June 8, 2021 the Suffield Township Board of Trustees met at 8:00 PM.  A lot is issues were discussed.  Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski, newly elected last November to Sheriff after David Doak's retirement, spoke for nearly a half hour on an array of topics.  These included his commitment to allowing citizens to possess guns, hiring more department employees, promoting the Citizen's Police Academy and, of course, a history of his career highlights.  The crowd of ten people seemed impressed by his talk.

Sheriff Zuchowski said he hopes to have a more transparent administration and hopes his department can have more involvement with the community.  He said that the Sheriff's Office handles about 60% of the county's police services.  With his background as a state trooper, he hopes to entice a stronger bond between the two agencies.  He did remind the crowd that state troopers are basically traffic officers.  He suggested that citizens are welcome to tour the county jail and learn more about policing in general by signing up for the Citizens Police Academy.  This academy will start another 12-week session in the fall, but no specific dates have yet been determined.  The academy is free to those who sign up.  Anyone interested should call the Sheriff's Office at 330-296-5100, ext 1.

The trustees also refinanced the bonds on the Fire Station.  This new financing is in the form of a twelve year loan at an incredible rate of 1.72%.  Over the life of the loan, serviced by Hilltop Securities, the township will save $419,507. Tom Calcei gave the Fire Department report for May.  He said that the Fire Department responded to 71 call for service and participated in five continuing education classes.  The trustees are also looking into a noise complaint at 1527 Galaxy Drive.  This noise is allegedly caused by a generator that is running continuously.  The trustees authorized the Road Department to buy a new power washer at a price of $5,300.  The Fairlane Water Company is holding neighborhood meeting to discuss the future of that area's water system.  No date or time or location was given for this meeting.

The township sponsored "Cruise In" is set for this coming weekend.  A lot of work has gone into this event.  Come out and enjoy the cars, see your neighbors and have some food.  The event is Sunday June 13th from 12:00 noon until 6:00 PM at the Municipal Complex next to the historic Town Hall.

The trustees meet again on Tuesday June 22nd at 7:00 AM.  The Zoning Commission is off in July, but meets again on Wednesday August 11th at 7:00 PM.  The Board of Zoning Appeals meets on Tuesday June 15th at 8:00 PM.  All meetings are at the Suffield Community Room at 1256 Waterloo Road and the public is very welcome.

A good crowd showed up at the Suffield Township Town Hall for the township sponsored "Cruise In" on Sunday afternoon on June 13th.  About fifty-or-so classic cars and hot rods were on display, as well as a bouncy house for the kids and several food vendors.  The weather threatened a couple times, but most of the car owners stayed on.

After a year's absence the Suffield League's Suffield Township Memorial Day Parade returned on Monday May 31st.  With about fifty participants, and picture perfect weather conditions, the parade was hailed a major success for all those who made it happen. This was not easy task.  It really wasn't decided until only recently that the parade would even be held, but COVID restrictions and the disease itself have eased in Ohio.  Therefore, let the parade begin.  There was also a change in times.  Instead of stepping off at 1:00 PM as in the past, this year's parade started at 10:00 AM.  Local business man and a former Mogadore and Cuyahoga Falls police officer Julius Heil was this year's Grand Marshal.  Thanks to Julius for being the Grand Marshal and for all his untold acts of kindness to Suffield and other communities.  His assistance in helping police departments acquire suitable canines is legendary.  Below is the township's newest Road Department vehicle. 

On Tuesday May 11th the Suffield Township Board of Trustees met before a crowd of eight residents.  Chief Bob Rasnick gave his Fire Department report for April.  He said that the firefighters and EMS personnel responded to 63 calls for service.  He also said that Matt Leidel has resigned from the Fire Department due to an unbelievable workload at his full-time job.  The trustees voted to accept the resignation.  Chief Rasnick said the heart monitors that the department now has have gone past their useful life and he asked that the trustees allow him to buy new ones.  They agreed to spend $36,730 for two new state-of-the-art heart monitors.  They also decided that buying an extended service contract was in the township's best interests.  The service contract for both heart monitors will cost the township $3,200 per year, and increase of only $140 per year.

Major Larry Limbert came to the meeting to discuss any matters that the trustees or audience might have on policing issues within Suffield Township.  He said that in the first four months of this year the Sheriff's Office has responded to 411 calls for service.  Limbert said that the Sheriff's Office is looking to hire more road deputies and jail personnel, but there has been few qualified candidates coming forth.  

Trustee Jared Phillip mentioned that "robocalls" have become a major problem and the source of many complaints.  He said that someone receiving these unwanted calls can dial 1-888-382-1222 and have their phone placed on the "Do Not Call Registry".  When calling this number, you must be calling from the phone number that is receiving the unwanted calls.  For more information, go to the internet at www.ftc.gov.     

Trustee Jeff Eldreth said that he's made great progress in setting up a "Car Show" for Sunday June 13.  There will be food vendors, a deejay and. of course, cars.  The event will be held in the parking lot between the Historic Town Hall and Suffield Community Center.  It is scheduled to begin at 12:00 noon and end around 6:00 PM.  A flyer with more information will out in the next week or so.

The trustees meet again on Tuesday May 25th at 7:00 AM.  The Zoning Commission meets on Wednesday May 12th at 7:00 PM, and the Board of Zoning Appeals meets on Tuesday May 18th at 7:00 PM.  All meetings are in the Suffield Community Room at 1256 Waterloo Road.

On a warm and pleasant almost-Spring evening the Suffield Township Board of Trustees met before a crowd of eight interested parties.  Trustee Tom Calcei presented a report in Fire Chief Robert Rasnick's absence.  The chief's brother John is in the hospital and needs your prayers.  In February the firemen conducted five continuing education classes.  They also responded to 54 calls for service, which included nine mutual aid events.  The trustees voted to renew a contract with the Nimishillen Township Fire Department for dispatching services.  These services will cost Suffield Township $2337 per month.

Tom Calcei said that the Suffield League will again sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt this year.  The event which is scheduled for Sunday March 28th from noon until 2:00 PM and will be a drive-thru event at the Suffield Fire Department.  For those who attended the drive-thru Christmas With Santa, they will see great similarities.  The Suffield League will also sponsor the annual Memorial Day Parade, pending final approval from the Portage County Health Department.  This too will be very different than the parades will all have attended in the past. First of all, this year's parade will kick off at 10:00 AM.  This time of day will likely reduce the number of participants, such as fire departments that have committed to other parades.  Calcei is suggesting the usual memorial service that has preceded the parade will take place after the parade.  Many details need to be considered and worked out, so more on this later.  

Trustee Jared Phillip gave the zoning report, and ended up yielding to zoning inspector Adam Bey for the details.  Bey said the problematic property at 2412 Sunnybrook Road has been demolished.  He said there are two new Board of Zoning Appeals hearings in the works.  The resident at 1450 Saxe Road is seeking a variance on an accessory building, and the resident at 1353 Brookwood Drive is also wanting a variance to open a winery on his property.  Already in the pipe is a Board of Zoning Appeals hearing on the property at 1188 State Route 43, where the owner and/or tenant if hoping for a variance to open a trash hauling business.

Trustee Chairman Jeff Eldreth asked that the Fiscal Officer advertise for bids for oil and slag for this year's road projects.  After written, these advertisements will be posted on this website.  The sealed bids will be opened at the trustee's meeting on Tuesday April 13th.

The trustees meet again on Tuesday March 23rd at 7:00 AM.  The Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday March 10th at 7:00 PM.  The Board of Zoning Appeals have one hearing set so far for Tuesday March 16th at 7:00 PM.  All these meetings are at the Suffield Community Room at 1256 Waterloo Road. 

Advertise yourself, your business or where you work by sending us your business card.  We will put it in the section above on the title bar that is entitled "Business Cards".  There is no cost to you, and the card will remain there until you ask that it be taken down, or when you ask us to replace an old card with a new, more up-to-date card.  You can e-mail the card to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or snail mail it to Jeff Childers, 229 Waterloo Road, Suffield, Ohio 44260. 

The Suffield Township Board of Trustees met on Tuesday February 9th before a gathering of eight people.  Fire Chief Robert Rasnick gave a brief report of January's activity.  A total of 62 calls were handled, of which 52 were EMS runs.  Zoning Inspector Adam Bey gave a report in which he said the derelict property at 2412 Sunnybrook Road had jumped to near the top of the list of properties that the Portage County Land Bank planned to demolish this year.  The Land Bank acquired a demolition permit from Bey and it now seems likely that the structures on the land will be removed sometime in March.  Bey also gave a report on zoning activity in 2020.  Fifty-five permits were issued, including eight for new homes.  The total value of improvements to the township was $4,860,814, which is about ten percent more than in 2019.

Some discussion was had on record retention.  The trustees seem to want to consolidate all the old records in one location than then have some at the old administration building and some on the second floor of the original Fire Station.  Jeff Eldreth spoke of building out a room in the Road Department garage where the salt used to be stored.  Tom Calcei mentioned that some of the older records could be destroyed after a careful review by the Record Review Commission and the Suffield Township Historical Society.  No final decision was made on this matter.  The trustees spoke of the new "Temporary Vendor's Permit" resolution that had its first public meeting two weeks ago.  Some changes were suggested and these changes will be considered by the Zoning Commission on Wednesday February 10th at the regular monthly Zoning Commission meeting,  John Yeargin complimented the Fire Chief and his department for the kind and professional manner in which the EMS crew operated on January 31st when Yeargin's wife Judy needed transportation to the hospital.

The big news was that the trustees voted to go forward with purchasing a new Road Department dump truck to replace the township's 2000 International dump truck.  A dealership in Wapakoneta has been selected and has in stock just the truck that the trustees are looking for.   The cost is about $145,000 which the fiscal officer said the township could afford.

The next trustee meeting will be on Tuesday February 23rd at 7:00 AM.  They will meet again that same day at 7:00 PM to continue their public hearing on the "Temporary Vendor's Permit" issue.  The Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday February 10th at 7:00 PM.  All meetings are open to the public and are at the Suffield Community Room at 1256 Waterloo Road.