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GOSHEN TOWNSHIP - Trustees Monday night expressed support for a proposed additional sales tax to generate funds for road maintenance.
Trustees passed a resolution in support of the proposed .25 percent additional sales tax for the Mahoning County Engineer's Office that would generate $8 million. That money would be split evenly between the county and the townships, with $4 million going to the engineer's office to fix county roadways and $4 million shared among the townships based on road mileage.
Trustee Shawn Mesler said under the proposal, Goshen Township would receive $147,000.
"I think this is a good thing," Mesler said. "I believe the residents should have a say (in how their tax dollars are spent), and this gives them the vote. If approved, it would allow money for the county to fix county roads in the township and the township to fix our own roads."
Mesler said the Mahoning County Township Trustees Association has been working with county Engineer Pat Ginnetti regarding funding for county road repairs in the township and the sales tax proposal is the result.
Bob Durbin of the engineer's office, who attended the meeting for another issue, noted the tax would allow for an additional 40 miles of road resurfacing each year and the engineer's office is looking at resurfacing at least one road per year in each township the first four years the tax is collected.
Durbin and Mesler also noted road repairs are funded through the gas tax and license plate fees. A portion of the gas tax is split evenly between the state's 88 counties, regardless of road miles, and Mahoning County has one of the highest mileage totals of any county in the state.
In other business, trustees hired former police chief Jim Willock to manage the township's record retention at a cost of $840. He will handle records retention for all departments, file with the historical society and set up meetings for disposal of records.
Trustees also accepted the resignation of police officer Daniel Breen effective March 5, moved officer Michael Edgerton to part-time and hired Dom Marchionda as a full-time officer.
Additionally, trustees granted permission for the West Branch-Sebring Hot Stove League to use the baseball field at the administration building free of charge.
The next regular trustees meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 12 at the administration building.
khowell@salemnews.net