In 1802 , the community of what was later to be named Suffield Township was founded by Royal Pease, who was originally from Suffield, Connecticut. From 1802 until April 6, 1818, our community was known as Peasetown. In 1818, the name was changed to Suffield Township and governing officials were elected. Suffield is one of 18 townships in Portage County and lies in the southwest corner of the county. We are uniquely situated in close proximity to Akron, Ohio to the west and to Hartville, Ohio to the south. This gives our community a great mix of big city opportunities combined with rural charm.
With a population of 6,315 as estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2015, Suffield Township is a close knit community - a community where neighbors look out for one another and wave when passing on the road. Township services include a highly trained Fire Department, led by Chief Robert Rasnick, providing fire and EMS protection to the township, as well as a hard working Road Department, supervised by David (Pete) Einloth, that takes care of the roadways and other services related to the needs of the community.
We welcome you to our community. Please explore our website and see what Suffield has to offer.
The Suffield Road Department is starting the annual chip and seal road work tomorrow (July 28th) and Friday (July 29th). The following roads are slated for chip and seal:
Manning Road from SR 43 to Heimbaugh Road
Martin Road from Bolender Road to US 224
Etter Road from the railroad tracks to SR 43
Trares Road from Congress Lake Road to Palm Road
Congress Lake Road from Randolph Road to Waterloo Road
The Suffield Township Board of Trustees met on Thursday June 23rd before a crowd of just two people. Fire Chief Robert Rasnick requested that the trustees hire Hayden Dupratt as a new firefighter. The trustees agreed and Dupratt was hired and will serve a one year probationary period. The Fire Department building also suffered some extensive damage to the building's computer and communication systems due to a lightning strike. The trustees did not make a decision on whether to use insurance funds for repairs or to pay the damages with township funds. More discussion is needed on this matter. There was a lengthy discussion of sick time accrual for firefighters, and the upcoming levies for the November General Election ballot were discussed. A final decision on placement of the levies is set for the next trustee meeting on July 12th.
The trustees next meet on Tuesday July 12th at 7:00 AM. The Zoning Commission meets on Wednesday July 13th at 7:00 PM. Both meetings are at the Suffield Community Room at 1256 Waterloo Road. The public is very welcome to attend.
The Suffield Township Board of Trustees changed their meeting date from June 14th to June 9th. In the process the Board conducted a group of business decisions. Some discussion was had on the upcoming levy proposal that would bring about $181,000 to $231,000 to the township, This levy would be placed on the November 2022 ballot. More discussion will be forthcoming at the Trustee meeting on June 23rd. Trustee Tom Calcei volunteered and was selected to be Suffield's representative to this years apportionment of the Local Government Funds. Those discussions will determine how much of the Local Government Funds that will come Suffield's way.
The Trustees will hold their annual budget meeting on July 12th at 7:30 PM, just prior to the regular Trustee meeting (8:00 PM). In other meeting changes the Board of Zoning Appeals hearing originally set for June 14th has now been changed to June 28th at 8:00 PM. Problems over how to notify the several hundred people affected requires more time to complete than normal. This appeals hearing concerns allowing the property owner of 17 acres at the corner of Waterloo Road and Portage Line Road to seek a conditional use permit to operate a construction company.
Chief Bob Rasnick said that Fire Department handled 67 calls for service in May. The firefighters also participated in five continuing education classes. Firefighter Kasey Beaver resigned from the Fire Department. The Trustees also passed a resolution stating that they accept the clean up effort by Suffield Aggregate for the mining operation along State Route 224. The State still has to accept the clean up effort. Some discussion was had on an issue that deals with "solar farms". Zoning Commission Chairman John Yeargin said the Zoning Commission would look into the issue and report back to the trustees.
Jeff Eldreth asked for and received funds to pave four streets in the township. The Streets are Suffield Oaks Drive ($41,000), Tershell Trail ($24,000), Highline Drive ($47,000), and Ridge Road ($35,000). The money to pay for this paving will come from the American Rescue Plan Act funds. Eldreth also said the Road Department is near to completing round one of the summer mowing.
The Second Annual Suffield Township Car Show was a big success. The event drew a good selection and number of cars and the weather held out. Thanks to Jeff Eldreth for making this a community success.
The trustees next meet on Tuesday June 23rd at 8:00 PM. The Zoning Commission meets on Wednesday July 13th at 7:00 PM, and the Board of Zoning Appeals meets on Tuesday June 28th at 8:00 PM. All meeting are at the Suffield Community Room at 1256 Waterloo Road.
The Suffield Township Board of Trustees met on Tuesday May 10th before a small crowd of eight people. The Board voted to accept funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for various projects in the township. These include, but are not limited to: funding road repair, buying another new dump truck and other piecemeal projects.
Trustee Tom Calcei gave the Fire Department report in the absence of Chief Bob Rasnick, who wasn't feeling well. The Fire Department had 62 calls for service in April 2022, and continued training with the Summit County Emergency Management Agency at the Omni Nova facility. The trustees also talked about two levies that may be placed on the November ballot. One will help to fund the staffing of the new full-time paramedics. The other levy looks to fund general expenses.
The trustees also passed a resolution deeming the old church on Waterloo Road, just east of State Route 43, as a "historically significant building". Built in 1875, it is certainly one of the oldest structures in Suffield. H.M. Miller Construction Company was thanked by the trustees for their donation of concrete blocks that were used to create the storage bins at the new salt barn. Way to go H. M. Miller!! And as mentioned, the trustees asked for and received from the Fiscal Officer a purchase order in the amount of $85,000 to buy a brand new Chevrolet one ton dump truck from Ganley Chevrolet.
The Suffield Township Memorial Day parade will be held on Monday May 30th. Participants should line up at 9:00 AM for the parade that steps off at 10:00 AM. Bring the family out and enjoy the parade.
The trustees will meet next on Tuesday May 24th at 7:00 AM. The Zoning Commission will meet next on Wednesday June 8th at 7:00 PM. There are no Board of Zoning Appeals hearings set at the time. The second annual Suffield Township Car Show will be on Sunday June 12th from 12:00 PM until 4:00 PM at the Suffield Township Town Hall parking lot.
The Suffield Township Board of Trustees met before a crowd of nine residents on Tuesday April 12th. The trustees welcomed Portage County Commissioner candidate Ed Dean to speak on his primary election hopes. Dean is one of two Republicans seeking the seat that Vicki Kline is vacating at the end of her current term. Chief Bob Resnick said the Fire Department handled 69 calls for service in March. He asked the trustees to appoint Chelsea Pratt and Ian Tuel to the Fire Department roster. Tom Calcei motioned to take the two on in a probationary capacity, Both Jeff Eldreth and Jared Phillip voted in favor of the hiring.
John Yeargin brought up the issue of the recent barn fire at the Dussel Farm in Brimfield. All agreed that the barn was a local landmark, which will now be replaced with a metal structure. Tom Calcei said that this year's Easter Egg Hunt at Wingfoot Lake State Park was a big success with 220 children participating. Mike Student, park director, said that Wingfoot Lake State Park has drawn so many visitors and events that the State of Ohio is going to increase funding for the park. Tom Calcei also said that Captain Bob Dudley will be this year's Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal. Congratulations to Captain Dudley!
Zoning Inspector Adam Bey said that he has received complaints of free range chickens in Garner Estates, and a home-based engine repair service on Skylark Drive. He and trustee Jared Phillip are assisting the owner of Windy Acres Farm on State Route 43 to develop the property into a wedding center. Bey also said that the controversial trash service that was located at 1188 State Route 43 has moved out. It was unknown where Zehner Trash Service was moving to. Bey gave the year end zoning report. In 2021, there was $3,815,465 in new development in Suffield Township, which is about $500,000 less than in 2020. In 2020, there were nine new houses built in Suffield, but in 2021, only three new houses were built. Bey was surprised that were 12 more private pool permits issued in 2021.
Trustee Jeff Eldreth asked for and received a purchase order for $7,200 to pay for replacement of a under-road culvert on Shaffer Road. He also said that the chip and seal program plans for this year have not been finalized, but that Etter Road, Martin Road and Congress Lake Road will certainly make the list this year. They hope to chip and seal about seven miles of township maintained roads.
The trustees meet next on Tuesday April 26th at 7:00 AM. The Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday April 13th at 7:00 PM. There are likely to be two Board of Zoning Appeals hearings, but those dates have not yet been set.
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 "Notice to Bidders" and the "Road Materials Bid Sheet" forms are now posted on THIS website. Go to the "Roads" button above, and then click on either the "Notice Letter to Bidders" or the "Bid Sheet Form" for 2022 to see and print the forms. Click the "Enable Editing" button at the top of the page to view as a Word document. You can then print out a blank form.
Bids must be in the hands of the Trustees by Tuesday April 26th at 7:00 AM.
Most of the articles, photos and images shown on this website's "front page" are stored so that you can read them later. To see older information, click the "READ MORE" button at the top of the page and a list of articles will appear. Click on the article you are interested in reading.
Recycle Pick Up Monday August 8th & Tuesday August 9th
BZA Okays Variances At Pony Express And 1701 Randolph Road
The Suffield Township Board of Zoning Appeals passed by a 5-0 vote a conditional use permit to allow Mark Davis the ability to use his property at 1395 State Route 43 as a U-Haul business. Some limitations were attached to the agreement.
Scott Stayer requested a variance to allow use of 60 foot access strips on the property at 1701 Randolph Road. This would allow the back portion of the 71 acre property to be divided into lots. The access strips would keep these lots from being "land locked". The variance was passed 3-2 after a number of neighbors had some objections.
Board Of Zoning Grants Conditional Use Request
Accurate Boring requested a conditional use permit to operate a directional boring business at 18 Waterloo Road. The hearing took place on Tuesday June 28th. After an unusually small amount of discussion. the requested was passed by a 5-0 vote.
Suffield Township Website Passes 855,000 Visitors Since April 1, 2015
As of July 29, 2022, Suffield Township's website had 855,122 visitors since April 1, 2015. Since the "new" website was adopted, the daily viewership has risen from about 40 per day to over 243.50 per day (thirty day moving average). Thanks for taking a look at "suffieldtownshipohio.com". Tell your friends about us.
Wingfoot Lake State Park is Suffield's only park. It was opened by the Ohio State Parks & Recreation Department in 2009. Goodyear had operated the park since the 1960's as a private playground for its employees and for corporate retreats. As the company footprint grew smaller in the Akron area Goodyear decided to close the park in 2006. To learn more about the park, such as rental of the facilities, visit the park's website: http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/wingfootlake
The historic Suffield Town Hall can be rented by residents and non-residents for various events. For complete information on the availability, costs and regulations on renting the Town Hall, please call the Town Hall administrator Shannon Eldreth at 330-807-0384.
Front Page Articles
The articles on the Front Page of this website are written for informational purposes. While most of these articles chronicle the discussions and actions at the township trustee meetings or zoning meetings, they are not the minutes of those meetings. The articles are intended to summarize what was said or done. The actual minutes of the meetings can be found on the "Trustees" page or the "Zoning" page. Keep in mind that these official minutes are posted only after they are approved by their respective boards and submitted to the webmaster for publication.
Who to contact in case of emergency and assistance when you need it.
A great opportunity for community involvement, and many free activities for everyone! Click on the logo to learn more about the Suffield League.
