Township Government

The Township government consists of three Trustees and a Township Fiscal Officer, who are each elected for a four year term. The terms are staggered so that each two years, either one Trustee and the Fiscal Officer, or two Trustees, are elected. Trustees take office January 1st and the Clerk April 1st, following the elections.

The Board of Trustees is the overall governing body of the Township. The Board decides issues of Township Policy and is responsible for all expenditures of Township funds. The Trustees appoint the Township's Zoning Board members and the Township's Board of Zoning Appeals members.    The Board of Trustees also hires all of the Township employees.

The authority of Township government is limited to only those specific duties, which are delegated by state law. Unlike cities and villages, townships do not have the authority to pass law, or to offer such basic services as water and sewers.

Many of the services commonly associated with local government are under legal jurisdiction of the county and the state government. These include water and sewers, dog control, maintenance of county and state highways, environmental protection and public health.

Although they have no direct legal authority over these services, Township officials can act as community spokesmen, while bringing local problems to the attention of higher officials and assisting with the solution of these problems. Your Township officials are always available to assist residents with problems dealing with the county, state, and even the federal government.

Regular Trustees meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Administration Building. Caucus (work session) meetings are usually held two Thursdays prior to the regular Trustees meeting. The Township Administration Building is located at 1451 Prospect Street, Mineral Ridge, Ohio 44440. The phone number is (330) 652-6326 or (330) 652-6328. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on weekdays. Along with the Township meeting room and the offices of the Township Trustees and Fiscal Officer, this building houses the Administrative Offices, Police Department, Road Department, Zoning Department and the Cemetery Deed Records.