Present for the most recent Miami Township Trustees meeting, Monday, Oct. 6, were, from left, Zoning Inspector Bryan Lucas, Trustees Chris Mucher, Marilan Moir and Don Hollister. (video still)
Tonwship Trustees address county millage roll-back
- Published: October 17, 2025
At their Monday, Oct. 6 meeting, the Miami Township Trustees received updates on multiple fronts, including a presentation on age-friendly community planning, Miami Township Fire-Rescue’s staffing and equipment needs and recent correspondence from the Greene County Board of Commissioners regarding property taxes.
Village Council member Brian Housh opened the meeting with a presentation on the Livable Equitable Age-Friendly communities initiative from the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission. The effort, he said, helps communities plan for the needs of older residents and those who wish to age in place.
The Village of Yellow Springs is a member of the Miami Valley Age-Friendly Network, a coalition of local governments and organizations. Housh noted that, through membership in the network and grant funding, the Village has already implemented such projects as sidewalk repairs and the downtown “Happy to Chat” benches. Two Miami Valley townships — Harrison and Washington — are currently members of MVAFN, with Beavercreek Township preparing to join. Housh suggested Miami Township could also benefit from participation.
Housh also reported that he had submitted a grant for the Cycling Without Age program, an initiative that uses electric-assisted trishaws — that is, rickshaw-like adult tricycles — to give older adults and those with limited mobility free rides around the community.
“We would love for the Township to collaborate with the Village on this particular activity,” Housh said.
Housh suggested that the Township’s participation could involve the existing local LEAFYS (Livable/Equitable/Age Friendly Yellow Springs) core team, which is already active in age-friendly initiatives.
Both Trustee Chair Chris Mucher and Trustee Marilan Moir said the timing for the Township taking on a new initiative might be difficult, with next month’s election possibly creating a shift in board membership, as both Moir’s and Trustee Don Hollister’s seats are up for reelection. Housh said introducing the initiative at the meeting was largely about awareness rather than immediate action.
MTFR report
Chief James Cannell presented the Miami Township Fire-Rescue report, noting that MTFR has responded to almost 800 calls so far this year, with staffing levels stable at three people per shift.
Trustees approved Cannell’s proposal to create three new part-time positions: a single-role paramedic, at $18.54/hour; a single-role EMT, at $17.10/hour; and a firefighter/EMT apprentice, at $17.10/hour.
Cannell said the single-role paramedic and the single-role EMT — who will be expected to give aid during fire calls, but are not required to have firefighter certification — are particularly crucial for MTFR; many paramedics, he said, prefer not to be certified as firefighters, and “85 to 90%” of Miami Township’s emergency calls require paramedic coverage.
The trustees approved hiring three new employees: Steffinie Brewer as part-time, single-role paramedic, Jason Foss as part-time firefighter/EMT and Luke Hrynkow as part-time firefighter/EMT apprentice.
The trustees also approved a Paramedic Training Reimbursement Contract, which funds tuition for paramedic training for employees or new hires in exchange for a minimum 48-month service commitment.
Cannell reported on equipment needs, recommending a focus on firefighter turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus before committing to lease-purchasing two vehicles, a Ford F250 utility truck and an Explorer command vehicle, which was discussed by trustees last month. Cannell said the utility truck is the more immediate need, and the command vehicle could be replaced next year.
County millage roll-back
Near the end of the meeting, the trustees briefly reviewed correspondence from the Greene County Board of Commissioners announcing that the board had decided to temporarily roll back 0.5 mills of inside, unvoted millage in response to “a significant jump in property taxes last year.”
The correspondence stated that the decrease in millage will equal about $3.2 million, roughly the same amount that county property taxes increased following triannual property reassessments in late 2023. Inside millage contributes to the county’s General Fund, which covers judicial services, public safety, public works, health and human services, economic development and administrative costs.
The correspondence urged local governments to consider rolling back inside millage as well. Mucher said he was surprised by the commissioners’ decision and recommendation.
“In theory, it sounds great; I’m not sure where we’re receiving and stashing away a substantial amount of money that’s not either earmarked or being used for normal operating procedures,” he said. “I, as a board member, applaud the commission for reviewing their finances and deciding that they’ve got the wiggle room to make this adjustment. Does the Board have any recommendations on us doing anything with our funding?”
Moir and Trustee Don Hollister declined to make any recommendations.
In other township business, Oct. 6—
The board approved a new policy for travel reimbursements, which followed a discussion at a September meeting of the trustees about whether Mucher’s travel expenses, incurred while serving on the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission, should be reimbursed by the Township or the State.
The board briefly discussed implementing a cybersecurity program required by Ohio Revised Code Section 9.64, previously HB 96, which was passed June 30 and took effect Sept. 30. The statute requires annual employee training, a cyber incident response plan, risk assessment practices and reporting to the Ohio Cyber Integration Center and auditor of state.
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