BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) — Boardman Trustees addressed the failed ambulance levy at their meeting Tuesday as well as the ongoing Mill Creek Park deer hunt debate.
Trustee Brad Calhoun stated what the other trustees would later agree with.
“My instinct is not to come back with this levy again,” he said.
Trustee Tom Costello said the township’s contract with Lane LifeTrans expires in the spring and he said the discussions would be difficult. Costello wants two ambulances in Boardman at all times.
“If he’s going to make that statement publicly then dog on it, he better have two ambulances in Boardman and if one’s leaving, there’d better be another one on its way here,” said Costello.
One Boardman resident who spoke said there are other ways to provide ambulance service other than collecting $6 million a year in property tax.
“But if you’re going to just sit there and say, ‘Well we just need to throw more money at it. We need to get another levy going,’ I’m going to vote no on it every single time,” he said.
The trustees all said they heard the will of the people and down the road, if there would be the need for another levy they would do it differently.
“We need to make sure the questions are asked prior to, so that everyone’s informed,” Calhoun said.
As for the Mill Creek Park deer hunt, some residents were concerned.
“Why are you not protecting your fellow citizens from the deer hunt?” asked resident Cathy Doslovic.
Resident Sylvia Holt called the gunfire unbelievable, telling the trustees there has to be something they can do to protect the citizens.
Beth Shutrump disputed claims by Mill Creek Park officials that the hunts have been successful.
“Their idea of success is not the residents who shutter in their houses listening to the gunfire going off, seeing these dead deer being dragged out, bloody dead deer being dragged out and put on backhoes,” said Shutrump.
Calhoun said the trustees are powerless to stop the hunts — that the issue has been litigated in court and Mill Creek Park officials have won.
“I believe they’ve upheld three or four times now that Mill Creek Park has all the law behind them,” said Calhoun.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, two Boardman police sergeants were promoted to Lieutenants. They were 22-year veteran Jon Martin and 19-year veteran Michael Sweeney.
