Welcome to Suffield Township

On Tuesday August 9th the Suffield Township Board of Trustees met.  They agreed to spend $55,000 on a new 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 pickup to be used by the Fire Department.  The funds for this purchase will come from money received through the American Rescue Plan Act.  The township was granted by the federal government just over $600,000 for 2022 and this money must be used by the end of this calendar year.  So far in 2022, the Road Department has purchased two dumps trucks and the now the Fire Department is getting this new Silverado.  The plans include replacing another (maybe two) fire vehicles.

Chief Bob Rasnick said the Fie Department responded to 93 calls for service in July 2022.  He mentioned that for all of 1992, they responded to 92 calls.  Quite an increase in calls for service.  The firefighters also attended the usual five continuing education classes.  Josh Stamper resigned from the Fire Department prior to his completion of probation.  Trustee Tom Calcei said that the countywide commission that divvies up the Local Government Funds has agreed with Kent and Ravenna on the formula to be used beginning in 2023.  Now the Portage County Commissioners must agree to the division.  There is about $4,500,000 to be divided between the various subdivisions.

There was a long discussion on an upcoming Board of Zoning Appeals hearing that concerns the properties at 2287 and 2321 Trares Road.  No date was set for the hearing.  The applicant there is asking to be allowed to operate and fabricating business in a RR District (rural residential district).  Trustee Chairman Jeff Eldreth said the Chip & Seal program is nearly complete.  Still to be done is striping the roads, which will be done by J.D. Striping at a cost of just over $10,000.

The trustees next meet on Tuesday August 23rd at 7:00 AM.  There is no Zoning Commission meeting in August.  There will be a Board of Zoning Appeals hearing, but the actual date has not been set.  Don't forget the Portage County Fair in Randolph Township, which begins on August 23rd and runs through August 28th.  And don't forget that Field High School football begins on Friday August 19th, when the Mogadore Wildcats visit the Falcons.

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.