Perrysburg Township votes to add two police officers

7/2/2014
BY MATT THOMPSON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Perrysburg Township Trustees voted Wednesday night to hire two new police officers.

The township‘‍s police department has four vacant positions. In two cases, jobs were left open after officers retired to save money.

Trustees also promoted Officer Aaron Lentz from patrolmen to sergeant, replacing a retired sergeant. His promotion will take effect July 6 when he will begin earning a little more than $33 a hour.  

Police Chief Mark Hetrick now will accept applications for two officers, though he isn‘‍t confident the other two positions also will be filled unless voters approve a 3-mill levy in November.

“We’‍re getting by with the bare minimum,” he said. 

The new-money levy would generate $1.1 million a year. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 house $91 a year. Two other renewal levies are on the ballot for the fire department --  one for 1 mill and another for 2 mills.

In other business, Trustee Craig LaHote proposed creating a temporary solution for problems at  the State Rt. 199 and Scheider Road intersection by putting in a four-way stop there. Several accidents at the intersection, which is near a busy interstate overpass, prompted his suggestion.

Board President Gary Britten said he wouldn‘‍t support a four-way stop because it would move the problem to the north side of the overpass where Eckel Junction Road eastbound meets State Rt. 199. He believes there would be a line of cars on the hill, which would cause more problems. 

Mr. Britten suggested closing Scheider Road at the intersection, forcing drivers to go down to Roachton Road and back up Scheider Road in the opposite direction. Mr. LaHote agreed, but said he is tired of waiting for all sides to agree. The troublesome intersection has been the subject of meetings with the township, nearby schools, Ohio Department of Transportation and other interested parties, that have not led consensus on a plan to improve the intersection.. 

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.