Brimfield

Brimfield Township is in financial trouble, but exactly how deep the hole is, who’s responsible and what to do about it remain unknown.

An exciting and highly anticipated event finally happened — the opening of the newest Portage County park, right here in Brimfield — the Kame-Esker Bog! Who is it named after? The correct question is WHAT is it named after?

The Atwater Fire Department would like to thank the township residents for their generous donations of school supplies during their “Stuff the Fire Truck” event on Aug. 15.

Mullaly then offered a report from the fire department and said they were currently looking at cost-cutting measures. Those include limiting purchases; stopping TV, newspapers and coffee at the station; limiting training; and limiting participation in the county teams.

Also in the consent agenda, Heflinger proposed the removal of school fees, excluding extra and co-curricular activities. He additionally asked for approval for contracts to purchase ELA books, for pest control services with A-Best Pest Control and with the ESC for special services.

It never occurred to me that I would someday have a best friend who is 80 years old. Last weekend I found myself at her birthday party, along with over 200 of her other friends. It caused me to ponder on the importance of friends in our lives. When I searched the internet, I came across an intriguing study on friendship and happiness.

There were days when we all wondered if summer would ever come. Well, it came. Summer is in full swing, and my advice…wear sunscreen! Some may remember that “song” from the late 1990s written by a man named Baz Luhrmann [yes, the director] entitled “Wear Sunscreen.”

Breaking ranks with Kent and Kent State University, the Brimfield Township Trustees recently approved a one-year, $12,000 contract renewal with Flock Safety, a technology company that provides public and private entities with license plate readers and other surveillance capabilities.

The bulk of Adkins’ time was spent in a discussion on the potential renewal of the township’s contract for Flock cameras. Adkins asked for a one-year renewal for the four cameras in the township.

It’s up to the state auditor’s office now. Brimfield Township, which manages the Kent-Brimfield Maintenance and Improvement fund for the mutually beneficial Joint Economic Development District, may be in for some more bad news.

The Village at St. Edward partnered with developer Dan DeHoff to construct a 107-unit, 101,000-square-foot residential care facility that will serve independent, assisted living and memory care residents in Brimfield.

How is it that the City of Kent has been providing free dispatching service for Brimfield Township fire and EMS for years?

Bill and I recently had the privilege of attending the swearing-in of Brimfield’s new chief of police, Christopher Adkins. Rest assured that the police department is in very capable and qualified hands, as he has been serving our community since 2001 in the ranks of patrolman, sergeant, captain and now chief.

Members of the Atwater High School Class of 1963 Jim Manion, Jerry Michael, Chuck Brockett and Steve Crites attended a recent board of trustees meeting to talk about a request they have made to the Portage County Engineer’s Office.

As of April 20, there will be a new chief in town! Captain Christopher Adkins will become Brimfield’s interim police chief, pending an employment agreement to offer him the full-time position.

“We’re just in the infancy stages,” Eldreth said. “Data centers are becoming real popular, so we’re just trying to figure out how to zone them.”

Brimfield Township trustees on March 2 reduced the stipend certain board members receive and reduced how often they get it.

Brimfield’s Chamber of Commerce shuttered years ago, but township business owners may find a new home with the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce.