Township ratifies levy millage; permits tattoo shops

by Laura Bednar

Aug. 12 township trustees meeting

Sagamore Hills trustees approved levies as determined by the Summit County Budget Commission. The budget includes inside and outside millage for the following township funds: general, police, fire and EMS, road improvement and road and bridge. Residents will pay a rate of 9.92 mills for the 2025 tax year.

Trustees also voted to add “tattoo shops” in the township’s commercial district following a recommendation from the township zoning commission.

Resident recognition

Trustees recognized Sagamore resident Ashleigh Apsega for calling 911 after noticing a garage fire at a Southridge Road residence and ensuring the resident inside was aware of the danger. The home belongs to township Administrator Joanne Taylor and her husband, Bob. Both attended the meeting to express their gratitude to Apsega.

Trustee Paul Schweikert said Apsega is an example of: “If you see something, say something.”

Roads and police

The Sagamore road department assisted Summit County following the Aug. 8 storms and tornado touchdowns in Northeast Ohio. Employees removed fallen trees at Dunham and Highland roads. Schweikert said township employees usually don’t assist with work on county roads because they aren’t insured but will lend a hand in drastic circumstances. He added that Sagamore came away from the storm relatively unscathed.

Summit County Sherriff Kandy Fatheree spoke with Sagamore Police Chief David Hayes and gave the township a county grant of $42,000 for a new police cruiser. Trustee David DePasquale said it costs $25,000 to outfit a new cruiser and made a motion to purchase a cruiser using the county grant for a total not to exceed $67,000.

Finances

Township expenditures included $18,500 for two furnaces and air conditioning units for the township offices and police department. DePasquale said the cost was covered through a NOPEC grant, and the units have the highest efficiency available without switching to electric.

Sagamore also paid $267,080 for the third quarter of the township fire and EMS contract and $3,500 for its contract with the Macedonia Senior Center. ∞

Ashleigh Apsega (center) is recognized by (l-r) Township Adminsitrator Joanne Taylor,
her husband Bob, trustees Paul Schweikert, John Zaccardelli, and David DePasquale
for alerting Taylor and her husband of a garage fire. Photo by Laura Bednar.