RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
The minutes of the meeting held December 4, 2025.
PRESENT WERE TRUSTEES JOSEPH RABATIN, JIM MILLER, AND DANIEL HODGE: AND FISCAL OFFICER VALORIE LEWIS
Also present were:
Jim Zimmerman Nate Garver
Blake Meier Loren Wengerd
Mr. Daniel Hodge called the regular meeting to order at 6:44 pm.
The Board said the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Board signed checks and po’s.
A motion to approve the November 6, 2025 regular meeting minutes with the addition of Mr. Daniel Hodge’s additional information regarding Barnard and East Lincolnway project was made by Mr. Jim Miller and seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Daniel Hodge concurring.
Mr. Daniel Hodge called the hearing regarding enforcing an engine brake restriction on US 250 starting at Fountain Nook Road to the Village of Apple Creek limits. Mr. Loren Wengerd stated he appreciated what the Board was doing to restrict the engine brakes in that area. He further stated he did not want to make life on the truckers difficult but the people along that area feel something needs done. Mr. Joseph Rabatin stated that he hoped putting up the signs will solve the problem but without law enforcement policing the area it may not change much. After discussion a motion was made by Mr. Daniel Hodge to approve no changes to the previously approved Resolution 24-2025. It was seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Jim Miller concurring.
A motion to approve Resolution 27-2025 to adjourn to executive session to do employee evaluations per ORC 121.22 (G)(1) was made by Mr. Daniel Hodge.
It was seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin.
A roll call vote was taken:
Daniel Hodge YES
Joseph Rabatin YES
Jim Miller YES
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Page #2 of December 4, 2025 mins.
A motion to adjourn executive session and return to regular session was made by Mr. Daniel Hodge and seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Jim Miller concurring.
A motion to pass Resolution 28-2025 as follows was made by Mr. Jim Miller.
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees approve to give the following raises effective January 2026:
Mr. Dave Compston from $32.24 per hour to $33.36 per hour (3.5%).
Chief Jim Zimmerman from a regular rate of $3,307.20 per pay at a regular rate of
$31.20 to a regular rate of $3,422.74 at a regular rate of $32.29 (3.5%).
Mr. Nathan Garver from $26.00 per hour to $26.91 per hour (3.5%).
It was seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin.
A roll call vote was taken:
Jim Miller YES
Joseph Rabatin YES
Daniel Hodge YES
The Fiscal Officer presented the December Grassroots Clipping.
The Fiscal Officer presented the information regarding objections to renewal of retail liquor permits within the Township. After discussion the Board had no objections.
A motion to accept Mr. Jim Miller and Mr. Blake Meier’s bonds and oath of office was made by Mr. Daniel Hodge it was seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Jim Miller concurring.
A motion to approve Resolution 25-2025 as follows was made by Mr. Daniel Hodge.
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees approve all then and now purchase orders dated November 7, 2025 through December 4, 2025 totaling $10,551.93.
It was seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Page #3 of December 4, 2025 mins.
A roll call vote was taken:
Jim Miller YES
Joseph Rabatin YES
Daniel Hodge YES
A motion to approve Resolution 26-2025 as follows was made by Mr. Joseph Rabatin.
A Resolution of Approval to amend the temporary appropriations within a fund by modifying the following appropriations from one account to another within the fund:
From: Account Number Amount To: Account Number Amount
Fund: GENERAL FUND
1000-760-740-0000 $1,400.00 1000-110-213-0000 $ 400.00
Machinery, Equipment, & Furniture Medicare
1000-110-230-0000 $1,000.00
Workers Compensation
TOTAL $1,400.00
To cover Medicare for the remainder of the year and Workers Compensation for 2026
Fund: FIRE DISTRICT FUND
2111-760-740-0000 $4,000.00 2111-220-230-0000 $4,000.00
Machinery, Equipment, & Furniture Workers Compensation
TOTAL $4,000.00
To cover Workers Compensation for 2026
It was seconded by Mr. Jim Miller
A roll call vote was taken:
Joseph Rabatin YES
Jim Miller YES
Daniel Hodge YES
Page #4 of December 4, 2025 mins.
A motion to approve receipts totaling $60,872.02 warrants 13427 – 13471 totaling $86,982.63 and bank reconciliation and financial reports as submitted was made by Mr. Daniel Hodge and seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Jim Miller concurring.
Chief Zimmerman reported 41 calls for the Month of October.
A motion to approve $163.25 for squad supplies was made by Mr. Daniel Hodge and seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Jim Miller concurring.
Chief Zimmerman informed the Board the Department added two advanced EMT’s so they are down radios. Chief Zimmerman further informed the Board we maybe able to get some radios from the Wooster Fire Department as what we have is no longer available to purchase and they are upgrading their radios to the newer model. Chief Zimmerman is hoping to get what is needed at a good price and we would just have some additional user fees per Month.
Chief Zimmerman informed the Board that Flinner & Sons Water Service came and adjusted the water softener to reduce the salt usage.
Chief Zimmerman informed the Board that the Station had an issue with condensation from the roof and presented a price to have Weaver Commercial Contractor to reinstall insulation to take care of the problem at $1,800.00. A motion to approve $1,800.00 to Weaver Commercial Contractor to reinstall insulation at the Station was made by Mr. Jim Miller and seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Daniel Hodge concurring.
Chief Zimmerman informed the Board that one of the tube heaters in the bay area was making noise. After discussion a motion to approve up to $2,500.00 for Alpine to repair the tube heater was made by Mr. Jim Miller it was seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Daniel Hodge concurring.
Chief Zimmerman informed the Board that Mr. Bobby Schmidt and Mr. Nick Troyer completed their state certification as advanced EMT’s bringing the total advanced EMT’s on the Department to four along with eight medics’ bringing the total ALS EMT’s to twelve on the Department.
A motion to approve Mr. Joseph Rabatin and Mr. Jim Miller and Mr. Daniel Cross to the VFDF Board for 2026 was made by Mr. Daniel Hodge it was seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Jim Miller concurring.
Chief Zimmerman informed the Board they would be going through an ISO assessment on January 15, 2026.
Page #5 of December 4, 2025 mins.
Discussion was held regarding the EMS and Fire contracts with Orrville Fire Department and Kidron Fire Department.
After discussion a motion to authorizer Chief Zimmerman to attend Kidron Fire Departments next meeting and offer a contract for $5,000.00 per year to cover the area they currently cover and also cover the Route 57 corridor in East Union Township. Chief Zimmerman was further authorized to offer up to $10,000.00 per year if necessary for them to take on the additional coverage area was made by Mr. Joseph Rabatin. It was seconded by Mr. Jim Miller with Mr. Daniel Hodge concurring.
A motion to approve the ACVFD contract for 2026 at $90,000.00 to cover the additional area Orrville Fire Department had been covering, and the increased call volume to date was made by Mr. Jim Miller and seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Daniel Hodge concurring.
A motion to not go into contract with the Orrville Fire Department and resume coverage of the area they had been covering with ACVFD providing coverage was made by Mr. Jim Miller it was seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Daniel Hodge concurring.
Mr. Jim Miller informed the Board that Sherriff Ballinger praised Chief Zimmerman and the Department for their support during a very tense situation on Millborne Road and other difficult situations recently encountered.
Mr. Nathan Garver presented the Road and Bridge and Buildings and Grounds report. Mr. Garver informed the Board that all the trucks at the Garage were serviced and he would be servicing the Fire Department trucks soon.
JEDD II – Mr. Jim Miller informed the Board the next meeting will be January 7, 2026
Mr. Jim Miller reported that Millborne Road has been taken care of, and Emerson Road had the camper removed earlier today.
Discussion was held regarding the property the Board owns on Millborne Road. After discussion Mr. Joseph Rabatin will look into the value of the timber on the property.
Mr. Joseph Rabatin stated he would like to Thank Mr. Koon for giving up some of his land to allow the Secrest Road bridge project to be widened and straightened out. Mr. Rabatin and Mr. Scott Miller met with Mr. Koon to come up with an agreement. Mr. Rabatin further stated the Board asked the County to get Secrest Bridge done and install the flashing lights at the back drive of Waynedale School.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Page #6 of December 4, 2025 mins.
Mr. Daniel Hodge informed the Board that the Cutter Road Bridge is scheduled to be done next year.
The year-end meeting is Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at 4:45 at the fire station.
A motion to adjourn at 9:06 was made by Mr. Jim Miller and seconded by Mr. Joseph Rabatin with Mr. Daniel Hodge concurring.