Welcome to Suffield Township

The Suffield Township Board of Trustees met on Tuesday evening June 11th at the Suffield Community Room.  Eighteen residents attended, including more than a handful who live in the Eaver Street/Miller Avenue neighborhood.  These residents came to express a complaint that the new fence along the western side of the H.M. Miller Excavating Company is not sufficient in hiding the construction company's storage from the neighboring houses.  Colleen Taylor took the lead for the residents.  She gave a brief history of the area, saying that in the late 1960's or early 1970's there was an agreement between the residents along Eaver Street and Miller Avenue that allowed H.M. Miller to purchase a lot that was deemed "unbuildable" and then use it for storage of pipe.  The company erected a fence and planted trees to hide their operation from the neighbors, but over the years the trees died and the chain link fence failed to mask the area.  Just recently, the H.M. Miller Company experienced some thefts and tore out the remaining trees and fencing, and then replaced these with a six foot wooden fence.  This effort by the company has failed to meet its objectives, according to Mrs. Taylor.  H.M. Miller has always been considered one of the premier businesses in Suffield.  Trustee Jared Phillip said he would go the the company and hope that they would make some changes that would satisfy the residents.  When asked by Trustee Jeff Eldreth what would make the residents happy, Mrs. Taylor said that a higher fence and more large trees would be a great place to start.  She had also mentioned that the original agreement provided that the company would not start operations until 8:00 AM, but that they now start much earlier.  There seemed to be a consensus among the trustees and those present that any changes in landscaping or work hours would have to be on completely voluntary basis by the company.  Zoning Commission Chairman John Yeargin said that the Suffield Zoning Resolutions have little impact on the company's use of the property or hours of operation.  

In other business Fire Chief Robert Rasnick was congratulated by Trustee Jeff Eldreth for his forty years of township service, the last 35 as Fire Chief.  Chief Rasnick gave his monthly report in which he reported the department responding to 62 calls for service.  Oddly enough, none were mutual aid call outs.  The men and women of the department also had six continuing education courses and did one tanker shuttle drill with the Greentown Fire Department.   Rasnick reported that the Mogadore VFW has paid for five ballistic helmets to be used with the five ballistic vests purchased two years ago.  The bill for the helmets was $1,771.25, all paid for by the VFW.  The Trustees also voted to hire Tanner Baker as a new firefighter.  He will serve the usual one year probation.

In the absence of Road Foreman Pete Einloth, Trustee Jeff Eldreth asked the trustees to approve a purchase order for $10,000 to Seal Master for crack sealing.  He also asked for a purchase order for $2,500 to Municipal Sign for signs and barricades.  Both issues were passed by the board.  Two local township levies are up for renewal.  They are a one mill, five-year levy for the Road Department, and a 1.25 mill, five-year levy for Fire Department operations.  The trustees passed both measures to allow the Fiscal Officer to send these matters to the County Auditor.  Most likely at the next trustee meeting, the trustees will vote on putting the levies on the November ballot.  Again, these are renewal levies, not new tax dollars.

Trustee Jeff Eldreth, whose wife Shannon is responsible for changes to the electronic sign in front of the historic Town Hall, said that the public is welcome to call Shannon with requests to have information placed on the sign.  She can be reached at 330-807-0384.

The next trustee meeting is on Tuesday June 25th at 7:00 AM.  The Zoning Commission meets on Wednesday June 12th at 7:00 PM.  A public hearing on resolution changes and updates accumulated over the past two years will precede the regular business meeting.  No Board of Zoning Appeals hearings have been set.  Both meetings are in the Suffield Community Room at 1256 Waterloo Road.

In perhaps one of the quickest Suffield Board of Trustees meetings in modern times, the trustees spent 34 minutes transacting several matters of routine business.  Chief Bob Rasnick was on hand to ask the trustees to hire Christopher Hendershot.  They did so.  The Chief also asked for $6,500 to buy a new pump from Four Guys Fire Trucks to replace the pump on the tanker truck.  He said that during the yearly testing of equipment, the current pump had failed inspection.  The trustees voted to expend the money.  Road Department foreman Pete Einloth said that his department was doing ditch work and had begun mowing along the roadways.  They have already mowed the three township-owned cemeteries several times this season.  

Trustee Jared Phillip said that the elevation markers are in place at several locations around Wingfoot Lake and the surrounding ponds.  He said that water levels in the main pool of water are about six inches below the lake level as agreed to in a 1928 court case.  The ponds along Mishler road are two to seven inches higher than normal.  Three interested citizens attended the meeting.

The next trustee meeting will be Tuesday June 11 at 8:00 PM.  The Zoning Commission meets on Wednesday June 12th at 7:00 PM.  There are no Board of Zoning Appeals hearings scheduled. 

Paul Young Is Suffield Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal

Long time Suffield resident and Township Clerk Paul Young will be the 2019 Suffield League Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal.  The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 2:00 PM and travel along Waterloo Road from Elizabeth Street west to the Suffield Elementary School.   Line up for the parade will begin at 1:00 PM.  About 60 entries were in the parade, which is generally Portage County's largest parade.  Prior to the parade, the Saint Joseph Catholic War Veterans laid a wreath and held a ceremony at the memorial monument in front of the historic Town Hall.  Prior to these events, the Suffield Lions Club presented a Pancake Breakfast in the lower level of the Town Hall. 

Paul Young is the longest serving elected official in Suffield's 217 year history.  He was the Township Clerk (now referred to as the Fiscal Officer) from 1984 until his retirement in 2008.  Always active in township activities, Young served on the Zoning Commission for two years and eleven years on the Board of Zoning Appeals.  He even served as the Zoning Inspector briefly in 1985, and is currently on the Suffield Tax Incentive Review Council.  Paul was a founding member of the Suffield Jaycees, which has morphed into the the present day Suffield League.  Paul and his wife Dolores now live in Hartville.

On Tuesday May 14th the Suffield Township Board of Trustees held their meeting before about ten people.  Most of the business conducted was of the routine nature.  

Fire Chief Bob Rasnick said that the Fire Department handled 63 calls in April and conducted five training sessions.  They also spent considerable time inspecting equipment and the fire station to make absolutely certain everything is up to standard.  Trustee Jared Phillip said that the long awaited elevation markers for Wingfoot Lake and the surrounding ponds would be installed later this week.  He said that the elevation level of 1147 feet above sea level will used on the markers. That this level is consistent with a 1928 court case, which set the precedent for the lake's level.  Zoning inspector Adam Bey said that the Walnut Gardens on the east end of Randolph Road is going through some changes.  Namely, they are going to set up an agri-tourism facility that will be used for education and later for events, such as wedding receptions.  

Trustee Chairman Jeff Eldreth said that part time worker Jeff Brown has started back to work for the township.  Eldreth also said that the township will pay $69.00 per ton to Morton Salt for road salt this coming snow season.  The proposed salt barn is nearer to reality.  Eldreth still wants to work out some details on size and design.  The once considered plan to join forces with ODOT for a larger, shared salt barn seems to have become less likely.  Fiscal Officer Lori Calcei said reported that the Risk Management Pool returned $1,693.00 for over-payment by the township.  The amount varies, but this is a yearly refund to the township.

Lori Calcei also mentioned that the there is a position on Suffield's Tax Incentive Review Council after the recent resignation of Alisha Wilson from that board.  This particular position is one that the Portage County Commissioners appoint.  Anyone with a desire to serve on that board, which meets one day a year each March, should call her or Jeff Childers (330-819-8905) for information on how to be appointed.  A Shenk Drive resident John Cain had some questions for the trustees and the Zoning Inspector about zoning issues on his street.

Former trustee Dave Vartenuk said that his mother is turning 94 years old this week and that it would be a nice gesture and use of the new electronic sign in front of the Town Hall to wish her a Happy Birthday. The trustees agreed.  Vartenuk also said that there will be a birthday gathering in her honor at Mulligan Springs this Sunday, May 19th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.  All are welcome.

Trustee Tom Calcei, who also happens to be president of the Suffield League, announced that there will be no Suffield Music Fest this summer.  However, he mentioned that there would be several musical events at the Wingfoot Lake Park, sponsored by ODNR.  The first of these will be  this Saturday May 18th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.  The John Hampu Band will perform 60's and 70's classic music.  The event is free and open to everyone. 

And, the Suffield League's annual Memorial Day Parade is set for Monday May 27th. On that day the events include a Pancake Breakfast at the Town Hall from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM, the VFW and Catholic War Veteran's Memorial Service in front of the Town Hall at 1:00 PM, and finally the Memorial Day Parade at 2:00 PM.

The next trustee meeting is Tuesday May 28th at 7:00 AM.  The next Zoning Commission meeting is Wednesday June 12th at 7:00 PM.  Both meetings are in 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 in a public forum before three citizens at their 7:00 AM meeting on Tuesday April 23rd.  The township had advertised for bids for road materials to be used this year.  Normally, there are about 8-10 bidders, but this year only three companies made bids to supply Suffield with road materials.  They were H. Luli Construction Company, Arms Trucking and Lafarge Inc, Great Lakes Division.  The trustees voted to accept these bids and will review them at the next trustee meeting. 

A rather long discussion was undertaken to talk about driveway culverts and how concrete driveways terminate at the ditch line or roadway.  The suggestion was made to include driveway requirements to the "Driveway Permit" form that is issued at the time zoning permits are issued.  Jared Phillip emphasized that any rules now promulgated by the trustees would apply to future driveway construction only.  Some discussion was also had on monument mailboxes.  Zoning Inspector Adam Bey mentioned that a large property on Pontius Road, west of Mishler Road, is going to be subdivided into about twelve lots of various sizes and configurations due to some wetland and ponds.  Bey also said that the Saal family is in the planning stages of converting some of their Randolph Road property to be used in an "agro-tourism" business, namely a place that would be used for educational programs, and later to be set up as a venue for events such as weddings.  

Road foreman Pete Einloth said his department has been busy with clean-up from the storm about ten days ago.  They have also been doing some ditch work and yesterday the crew mowed all three cemeteries for the first time this season.  

The trustees next meet on Tuesday May 14th at 8:00 PM.  The Zoning Commission meets on Wednesday May 8th at 7:00 PM.  Both meeting are at the Suffield Community Room at 1256 Waterloo Road. 

The Suffield Township Board of Trustees met on Tuesday March 26th at 7:00 AM before a crowd of five citizens.  Most the business discussed was mundane and of the routine nature.  Chairman Jeff Eldreth announced that the annual Township Clean-Up Day will be on Saturday April 20th from 8:00 AM until 12:00 AM.  It will be held at the township Road Department garage, which is on State Route 43 to the rear of the historic Town Hall.  The Portage County Solid Waste Management District has provided the township with rules on what will be accepted.  These rules are:

1.  A strict limit of 10 tires per vehicle will be accepted at the collection event.

2.  Passenger tires with rims will be accepted.

3.  Tractor tires, with rims, will be accepted.

4.  Cut (sheared) tires will NOT be accepted.

5.  Tires that are muddy of filled with dirt will NOT be accepted.

6.  Semi tires will NOT be accepted.

7.  We CANNOT accept heavy equipment tires or treads from mini excavators.

8.  We CANNOT accept chunks of rubber.

9.  We CANNOT accept inner tubes.

10. Tires will NOT be accepted from commercial businesses.

11. Batteries will be accepted.

12. Electronics will be accepted, however, NO TV's WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Fiscal Officer Lori Calcei reported that NOPEC has okayed two grants to Suffield Township for 2019.  One was for just shy of $19,000.  NOPEC has agreed that using this money to pay towards the new electronic sign would be appropriate.  The other grant for $1,500 is to be used for a community based event.  There is also $400 worth of leftover NOPEC grant money from 2018 that the township can use.  The trustees discussed some options on this.  Tom Calcei said that the Suffield League has decided not to have the annual Suffield Music Festival in 2019, but instead is considering a "community picnic" at Wingfoot Lake State Park.  This grant money could be used for that event.  Jeff Eldreth talked about a Christmas decorations competition in which residents would nominate and vote on the best decorated house.  A small portion of the NOPEC grant could money be used as prize money.  No decision on spending this grant money was made.

The new electronic sign is up and running.  Community based organizations are encouraged to advertise their events on BOTH the Suffield Township website and on the electronic sign.  Call Jeff Childers at 330-819-8905 to provide website information and call Shannon Eldreth at 330-807-0384 to provide information for the electronic sign.

Jeff Eldreth reported that the annual street sweeping has been completed.  Buckeye Sweeping was the contractor this year.  There was some discussion on the proposed new salt barn.  Jeff Eldreth hoped that the new salt barn would be about 54' by 40' and would hold about 900 tons of material.  Since that amount of salt is about twice the amount used annually, Eldreth said that he wanted a shed large enough to shelter both the salt and grit that the township uses.  Keeping the grit out of the weather will prevent it from freezing into chunks that won't go through the spreader apparatus.

The trustees next meet on Tuesday April 9th at 7:00 AM (this time is correct, meeting time was changed).  The Zoning Commission meets on Wednesday April 10th at 7:00 PM.  No Board of Zoning Appeals hearings are scheduled.