Concord Township places a 3.9 mil Fire Levy on the November 5, 2024 ballot

It is important that residents have the correct information before casting their vote on the Fire Levy Issue. The levy on the ballot for November 5, 2024 is a responsible 3.9 mill levy ($137.00 per $100k taxable property value) that will support fire operations and allow for the adequate funding of police protection. There is no extra money in this ask and the levy is not “padded.” The Trustees are acting in good faith to ensure strong financial health for the future of our safety services and Township community.

“The Trustees have reevaluated the needs of the Township and took a great step to create a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC conducted a thorough evaluation of the Township’s budget, finances and needs of our safety services to fully service a community of this size.” said Trustee Carl Dondorfer. Trustee Dondorfer continued by saying, “One of the most important aspects of public safety is personnel and the ability to recruit and retain personnel. I am a big believer that safety services is a major component to the health and vitality of a community.”

“We took the opportunity to form a CAC to have fresh eyes on the current situation from their perspective. We are accepting their recommendation. Three quarters of our safety services budget is directly related to salaries so when we talk about supporting safety services, we are talking about human capital. We are talking about contracted deputies and fire fighter personnel. We have worked hard to look for other funding opportunities to support the overall Township.” Said Trustee Morgan McIntosh. Trustee Amy Lucci stated “Our current funding does not provide enough to sustain our safety service (Fire and Police) operations with our current funding mechanisms. These funds are necessary and are going for a specific purpose.” Trustee Lucci continued “I encourage residents to take the time to educate themselves on the Township’s needs and tax allocations”.

The Concord Township safety services has not realized an increase in revenue in over eight years. Operational costs continue to increase which necessitates the levy being placed on the ballot for consideration. Residents are encouraged to ask questions to gain a strong understanding of the Township’s needs related to supporting strong and necessary safety services within our township.

If the levy passes, we will have the funds available to maintain our Fire Department and full strength along with acquiring needed equipment and will also allow for the funding of ten (10) deputies to provide police protection.  

Sean Supler, Recreation Director, 440-639-4652

Susie Cobb, Administrative Assistant, 440-639-4650

Rachel Lamb, Program Coordinator, 440-639-4651

The Summer Concert Series welcomes Follow The Sun to the Town Hall gazebo on August 1 at 6:30. Franks Brats and East Coast food trucks will be there!

2024 Concord Township HOA Co-Ed Softball Tournament

Saturday August 10th and Sunday August 11th

9 am – 4 pm each day.

Concord residents only, or those who grew up in Concord and parents still live in Concord.

Neighborhood teams currently exist, but new teams can always be formed. Players must be at least 14 years old. If you think you can organize a team for your neighborhood, if you have multiple players that you would like to get added to a team or if you would like to join a team as an individual, we can help.

Contact the Kevin Kane at kkanecpa@sbcglobal.net. He will be happy to answer any questions you have along with getting you matched up with teams that are looking for more players!

Upcoming Events and Class Programs

Classes are held at the

Concord Community Center

7671 Auburn Road

Concord Township, Ohio 44077

*unless otherwise noted

Online registration is free!

https://concord.recdesk.com/community/home

Fees listed for classes are Residents followed by Non-Resident prices.

Martial Arts

Instructor – Master Ciro Grandini, 6th Degree Black Belt

Mind & Body Martial Arts utilizes the traditional art of Taekwondo as its base material combined with the circular self-defense style of Hapkido along with the stamina, footwork, and dynamic striking power of American Kickboxing. Student Uniform & Student Manual provided upon acceptance into the program (with paid tuition).

You may register up to four months in advance. All new students receive their first month of training free of charge!

This monthly martial arts training program is offered in a traditional group format on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings each week.

Junior Program, Ages 8-12:

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

Adult Program, Ages 13 and above:

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM  

Monthly Fee: $70/ $75

MAKE & TAKE CLASSES

Join instructor Joanna Orgovan as she teaches you how to create soaps, perfumes, nail polishes and more that are free from many of the harmful chemicals used in every day brands!   Please check our website (or Adaptive section) for more detailed information on the classes below!

 Adaptive: 8 Make & Take: Tinted Lip Gloss

Adaptive: Make & Take: Tinted Lip Gloss

Create your own lip gloss that not only keeps your lips moisturized but is also free from harmful chemicals. Get creative with colors, whether you want something bold and vibrant or something more subtle and complementary. This is the perfect time to take extra care of your lips while having fun in the process. So go ahead, unleash your creativity, and make your very own lip gloss!

• Ages 12 to 101.
• Make 3 tubes of tinted lip balm.
• Micas are dye free.
• Mix the raw oils and choose which micas you would like to use.

Monday August 12 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM  $35

Let's Cook: Porcini Tofu Burgers

Come learn to make this versatile dish that can be served not only hot or cold but also as an appetizer or a main dish. We will use chickpeas, eggplants ,tomatoes and a few other pantry staples to create this perfect party dish.

Thursday August 22 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM $27

Rookie Sports Fall Soccer

Rookie Sports Club leads an age-appropriate program that utilizes fun games and activities to teach the fundamentals to beginning soccer players. Coaches focus on teaching the basics of dribbling, passing, scoring, and the concept of game play. Proper sportsmanship is emphasized in a positive and encouraging atmosphere enabling children to enjoy learning soccer while also having fun being physically active. Each week will include both developmentally appropriate instruction as well as recreational, non-competitive game play. Min: 12/Max: 24

Tuesdays, Sept 10-Oct. 8    5:30-6:15 P OR 6:30-7:15 P       3-4 yrs.    $70 R/$75 NR Town Hall

Kid's Dance

Cheer & Hip Hop Thursday 8/15 - 9/5 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Move & Groove Thursday 8/15 - 9/5 6:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Princess Ballet Thursday 8/15 - 9/5 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Cheer & Hip Hop Thursday 8/15 - 9/5 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

$45/Child

If you have any questions about programs, please call the us at 440-639-4650. 

From the Chief's Desk

Since the last edition of the eGrapevine, the Concord Fire Department has had much to celebrate. The department recognized the service of Captain Dennis ‘DJ’ Calhoun upon his retirement. Captain Calhoun has faithfully served the Concord community for over 26 years. We extend our best wishes to him and his wife, Stacy, as they embark on new endeavors at their farm in Chardon.

With Captain Calhoun’s retirement, we are pleased to announce the promotions of Troy Yoder to the position of Captain and Adam White to the position of Lieutenant. Both have been dedicated members of the Concord Township Fire Department for many years, and we anticipate their effective leadership in their new roles.

However, Captain Calhoun’s retirement has also left a vacancy in our full-time firefighter ranks. Due to the failure of the operational levy last fall, the department has had to make the difficult decision to delay filling this position.

Our call volume has continued to increase, encompassing both Emergency Medical Service and Fire incidents. Between January 1, 2024, and July 24, 2024, our total call volume has already exceeded the 1,598 calls recorded during the same period in 2023.

We want to thank our Fire Department Administration for their extraordinary efforts in seeking alternative funding to meet our operational needs. Below is a summary of the grants we have applied for:

• FEMA Assistance to Firefighters - $74,259.84 for 2 heart monitors
• FEMA Assistance to Firefighters - $243,770.60 for 28 radios
• Lake County Workforce Development Board Incumbent Worker Training Grant - $16,600 for paramedic training
• Gary Sinise Foundation First Responder Grant - $46,829.97 for 1 heart monitor

The cost of essential equipment required to deliver quality service to the community continues to rise. In 2010, we purchased a heart monitor for $23,749. Today, the cost has nearly doubled to $46,830.

We remain committed to operating within our budget constraints. However, heart monitors are just one example of the financial challenges we face. The costs of fire engines, ambulances, personnel, and other necessary equipment to provide emergency services to Concord Township have all increased dramatically, outpacing our current operating budget.

In response, the Concord Township Trustees have approved a new Fire Operations Levy. The levy, set for the ballot on November 5, 2024, proposes a 3.9 mill rate ($137.00 per $100,000 of taxable property value) to support fire operations and ensure adequate funding for police protection.

We encourage any resident with questions or a desire to learn more about this levy or fire department operations to reach out to a Trustee, the Township Administrator, Deputy Chief, or myself.

We will be offering another two day Babysitter’s Training on 8/12/24 & 8/13/24. This 2 day program is intended to provide youth who are planning to babysit with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and responsibly provide care for children and infants. Attendance is required on both days to obtain a certificate of completion.

If you have any questions or to register, please email your name, contact phone number, and child’s name to: concordfireprograms@concordtwp.com.

The cost for this program is $60.00 and is payable the night of the class. For further information: https://concordtwp.com/departments/fire/fire-education.

The Service Department in the month of August continues to make many road repairs and improvements throughout the Township. Concrete Slab replacement, Crack Sealing, and Dura-Patching are some of the operations being performed. Our crews also maintain the baseball fields at Town Hall along with the three parks and two cemeteries within the Township. We continue to offer services like Driveway culvert replacement, the Snow Barricade program, and ditch maintenance.

The 2024 Joint Road resurfacing projects will be wrapping up in the month of August. Viewmont Dr. and Page Dr. have been resurfaced with asphalt and are awaiting final punch list items. Winchell Rd. is scheduled to begin the week of July 29^th. Three culvert replacements and road resurfacing will be done to Winchell Rd. In addition to resurfacing, ten roadways that have been paved in the last three years will receive a rejuvenation treatment of Reclemite. This treatment will help prolong the life of the roadway helping to keep the asphalts flexibility and seal it from water infiltration preventing premature deterioration.

Working with the Lake County Storm Water Department a stormwater improvement project will begin on Grandridge Pointe Dr. the second week of August. This project will correct a failed storm sewer outlet failure and erosion issue. The project is funded by Concord Township storm water tax dollars.

The fall Yard Waste drop off will reopen on September 3 at 7:30am. The Yard waste drop off will be open until December 6^th. Residents may drop off Yard Waste in biodegradable paper bags to the Service Department at 7229 Ravenna Rd Monday – Friday 7:30am-2:30pm.



The annual fall Brush Day collections will be held on Saturdays October 5^th & 19^th from 7:30am-2:30pm. Residents can drop off brush no bigger than 4” in diameter. No lumber, Landscape Timbers, Stumps, or Railroad Ties are permitted. Yard Waste will also be accepted on these dates.

The Service Department encourages residents with questions or concerns to contact us at 440-350-3225 or by the email links at concordtwp.com/service.

Concord Township, Lake County, OH | P: 440.354.7510 | F: 440.354.7511 | www.concordtwp.com