Welcome to Suffield Township

Eight interested parties showed up at the Suffield Township Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday evening January 14th.  Mostly routine matters were discussed or acted upon.  The trustees agreed to pay Magic Garage Doors $9,800 for three new doors and openers for the "cold storage" end of the Road Department's garage.  They agreed with the Portage County Engineers Office that there are in fact 41.204 miles of roads in Suffield Township.  Fire Chief Bob Rasnick said that 2019 set a record for fire calls with 845.  In December the Fire Department responded to 72 calls for service and held five classes of continuing education. Rasnick also said that, due to some absolutely unnecessary information requests by the Boy Scouts of America, the Fire Fighters Explorer Post is going to sever all ties with the Boy Scouts of America.  The Post and all the good things that arise from it will continue.  Zoning Inspector Adam Bey noted that the trustees need to hold a public hearing to finalize the change of zoning status from "Industrial" to "Residential" on the property along State Route 43, across from the William "Ernie" Rufener farm.  The trustees have set the date for that hearing to be Tuesday February 11th at 6:30 PM, just before the regular trustee meeting.  Jeff Childers, chairman of the Tax Incentive Review Council, pointed out that longtime resident Paul Young has resigned from that Council and that the position needs to be filled.  The trustees appointed Bryon Wine to the post.  

The trustees meet again on Tuesday January 28th at 7:00 AM.  They will then meet again on Tuesday February 11th at 6:30 PM for a Zoning Hearing and at 7:00 PM the same evening for their regular meeting.  The Board of Zoning Appeals has a hearing and Re-Organizational Meeting set for Tuesday January 21st at 7:00 PM.  The Zoning Commission next meets on Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, Wednesday February 12th at 7:00 PM.  All these meetings are in the Community Room at 1256 Waterloo Road, and all are open to the public.

A couple other dates need to be mentioned.  On Sunday January 19th the Suffield Township Historical Society will conduct its annual business meeting at the Museum at 4:00 PM.  The Museum will be open to interested parties from 2:15 to 3:45 PM that same day.  The Historical Society in conjunction with the Suffield League and the Suffield Lions will hold its first annual Chili Cook Off on Saturday February 8th at Lions Park,  Admission to the "all you can eat" event is $5.00 and doors open at 6:00 PM.  There will be a cash bar featuring beer, pop and water operated by the Suffield Lions Club.  Questions can be directed to Sally Kreiner at 330-628-1580.  And the Suffield League will have its annual Laugh at the Lake dinner and comedy show on Saturday March 7th.  Doors at Paradise Lake Country Club will open at 6:00 PM.

The Suffield Township Board of Trustees met twice at the crack of dawn on Monday December 30th.  The first meeting was to close out the year 2019 and pay the final bills for 2019.  They also agreed to update their credit card policy.

The second meeting lasted a tad longer.  The annual re-organizational meeting opened with  trustee Tom Calcei nominating Jeff Eldreth to a second year as Chairman of the Board.  Jared Phillip seconded the motion, which passed 2-0.  Jared Phillip was elected vice chairman for 2020. The trustees kept the same areas of responsibility as in 2019, and the meeting days and times remain the same as in 2019.  Virtually all township employees received a modest pay raise for 2020.  Bob Rasnick was reappointed as Fire Chiief, David Einloth remains Road Department Superintendent, Shannon Eldreth stays on as Town Hall Administrator and Jeff Childers as webmaster.  The trustees reappointed Jeff Childers to another five year term on the Zoning Commission and reappointed Mason Kisamore and Bill Evans as alternates for 2020.  Don Monroe was reappointed for another five years to the Board of Zoning Appeals and Matt Loos and David Einloth remain as alternates for 2020.

Fees for zoning permits remain the same, except, after a long discussion, the cost of a residential demolition permit was lowered from $100 to $50.  Adam Bey was retained for 2020 as the Zoning Inspector.  The fees to rent the Town Hall remained the same as in 2019.  The trustees elected to remain in the fire mutual aid pact with Mogadore and Springfield for 2020 and will again participate in the Portage County Regional Planning.  The service agreements that the township already has will be continued and the fiscal officer was again given authorization to issue purchase orders up $10,000 and to make adjustments to the appropriation budget.   The temporary appropriation resolution was set at $2,360,534.70, which is effective January 1, 2020 and ends on March 31, 2020.

Some familiar faces returned for the meeting.  Former Road Department Superintendent Scott McBroom, and Vickie and Bryon Wine were among the six attendees.  The trustees wished everyone a safe and happy New Year's Eve and hopes for a sensational 2020.

The trustees next meet on Tuesday January 14th at 7:00 PM.  The Zoning Commission has its Re-organizational and regular monthly meeting on Wednesday January 8th at 7:00 PM.  The Board of Zoning Appeals has a hearing set for Tuesday January 21st at 7:00 PM, to be preceded by their Re-Organizational meeting.

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 December 10th before about 16 residents.  It was one of those two-for-one meetings in that the first session was set as a hearing on one Zoning Resolution change.  The trustees heard Zoning Inspector Adam Bey and Zoning Commission Chairman John Yeargin explain a change to the rules that would allow residents to build larger accessory buildings on their lots.  The hearing concluded with trustee Jarod Phillip motioning to accept the Zoning Resolution change.  The trustees voted 3-0 in favor of the change.  The new rule will become effective in about 30 days.

During the regular trustee meeting, the trustees discussed a number of subjects, including, but not limited to:  The trustees also decided to not oppose the change of the liquor license at Suffield Springs Golf Course from Joe Guarnieri to the new owner.  They passed a resolution acknowledging that a three year Fire Levy renewal would bring in $177,978 each year for the township.  This levy renewal will be on the March 17th election ballot.

The big news was announcing the winners of the Christmas Lighting Contest.  The Grand Winner was the Winkleman family at 1701 Woodlark Drive. Second through fifth place went to the Denison's at 2409 Congress Lake Road, the Ebie's at 1124 Etter Road, the McCarty's at 43 Pontius Road and the Bennett's at 1435 Galaxy Circle.  Gift certificates were given to these winners.  This year 16 families entered the contest.  The next step is for the Suffield Township trustees and the Rootstown Township trustees to vote on either the Winkleman house or the winner of Rootstown's contest.  Gift baskets from each township will go to the winner.  Residents are encouraged to drive by the sixteen houses in Suffield to see the lights. When Rootstown has announced their winner that location will be provided.  See the list of Suffield houses in the article near the top of this page.

Chief Bob Rasnick said that the Fire Department had a busy November, responding to 66 calls for service.  They also conducted nine continuing education classes.  Trustee Tom Calcei said that the Christmas With Santa was another big success with 67 kids visiting with Santa and receiving gifts.  The Field High School Concert Choir also gave a great performance. 

The trustees changed their meeting schedule for the remainder of 2019.  They will next meet of Tuesday December 24th at 7:00 AM, then again for the "Year End" meeting and "Re-Organizational" meeting on Monday December 30th at 7:00 AM.  The Zoning Commission has a meeting on Wednesday December 11th at 7:00 PM, and the Board of Zoning Appeals will hold a hearing on Tuesday December 17th at 7:00 PM. 

Trustees from both Suffield and Rootstown presented gift baskets to Jim Winkleman of Suffield, who won the 2019 Light Up The Night home decorating contest.  Pictured above are Dave McIntyre, Brett Housley, Tom Calcei Jim Winkleman, Robert Winkleman, Jeff Eldreth, Jared Phillip, Rose Stevens and Jordan Michaels.