Welcome to Suffield Township

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.

Fill out this form and return it to Terry Ginn or Tom Calcei, or merely bring it with you tt 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.

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. 

On Tuesday March 8th the Suffield Township Board of Trustees met to conduct business.  The meeting was shorter than the usual evening meetings, just 42 minutes in duration.  During the session, the trustees passed a resolution to send forward to the County Commissioners a recommendation that the four Suffield-based businesses that have a tax abatement agreement with the county be allowed to continue getting those abatements in 2022.  The Tax Incentive Review Council had met earlier that same day and had reviewed the facts and figures and ultimately decided to recommend that trustees pass the resolution for continued abatements.  Jared Phillip and Jeff Eldreth voted for the resolution.   Tom Calcei was absent.  The businesses that are affected are:  Bednar Properties, G.P. Tree Service, Hamrick Manufacturing and Oldcastle Lawn & Garden.

The trustees also passed a resolution allowing the fiscal officer to transfer $32,202 from the Debt Fund to the Road and Bridge Fund in order to make the first payment on the township's brand new dump truck.  Chief Bob Rasnick was on hand to give the monthly Fire Department report.  In February the department handled 69 calls for service and conducted the normal five continuing education classes.  Zoning Inspector Adam Bey said that the resident at Kapity Drive and Bolender Road has not cleaned up his yard as verbally ordered to do so.  The trustees decided that Bey should send that resident a warning letter, which is generally a precursor to prosecution.  Bey also said that the property at 1181 State Route 43 continues to be a problem.  On March 16, 2021 the Board of Zoning Appeals gave the property owner one year to bring the property into compliance with the conditions set forth to operate a trash service there.  They have not complied, so a hearing has been tentatively set for March 16th.

Trustee Chairman Jeff Eldreth said that the township will advertise for bids on road materials needed for this year's road operations.  A Notice Letter to Bidders and a Bid Sheet Form will be published on this website in the next several days.  Bids will be opened at the trustee meeting on Tuesday April 26th.

The trustees meet again on Tuesday March 22nd at 7:00 AM.  The Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday March 9th at 7:00 PM.  No Board of Zoning Appeals hearings have been set.  Both meetings are at the Suffield Community Room, 1256 Waterloo Road.  All are welcome.

During the regular business meeting of the Suffield Township Board of Trustees, Mike Carson was sworn in as the newest full time paramedic.  Congratulations to Mike!

The Suffield Township Board of Trustees met on Tuesday February 8th before a small crowd of eight people.  Most of the meeting was consumed with minor routine business.  Chief Bob Rasnick said the Fire Department responded to 59 calls for service and the staff participated in five continuing education classes.  He asked the trustees to hire two new firefighters.  They are Kari Frank and Josh Stamper.  Both have served their one-year probationary period and are ready to go.  The trustees voted to hire them.  Kasey Beaver, a full-time firefighter and paramedic resigned her position and asked to be kept on as a part-timer.  The trustees also accepted this move.  On an important fire issue, Chief Rasnick said that he has applied for  three FEMA grants, which total $1,183,189.  These grants are for replacing a 28 year old fire/rescue truck, 29 year old hydraulic rescue tools, and to hire three more full time firefighter/paramedics.  The township portion of the expense would be $20,401.  Mr Eldreth asked about timing and was told that the Chief hopes to get grant approvals around the first of June 2022.  Build out of the truck could take as long as two years.

Fourth grade resident Taylor Lautzenhiser asked the trustees for permission to do a community project.  Her plan is to refurbish the "Welcome To Suffield" sign on Waterloo Road near Portage Line Road.  Ms Lautzenhiser is asking for donations from the community to fund the project, which should included flowers, shrubs and some painting and the repair to the existing sign.  If you have questions about the project or would like to make a donation, call Jessica Lautzenhiser at 330-858-9317.

The trustees also voted to accept the permanent appropriation of funds from the Portage County Auditor's Office for the year 2022 in the amount of $3,266,748.

The trustees meet next on Tuesday February 22nd at 7:00 AM.  The Zoning Commission meets on Wednesday February 9th at 7:00 PM.  The Board of Zoning Appeals meets for a hearing on Tuesday February 15th at 8:00 PM.  All meetings are open to the public and are held 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.