As has been the case since townships were formed in the state of Ohio, Washington Township is governed by four elected officials (three trustees and one clerk). One trustee and the clerk are elected every four years and the two other trustees are elected in the alternate, even-numbered years. Washington Township trustees, along with trustees of other townships its size, are governed by the Ohio Revised Code and thus have a limited authority. In Washington Township your trustees are responsible for the township roads and rights-of-way, for operation and regulating of our locally voted zoning ordinance, for the maintenance and operation of a Volunteer Fire Department, and for the operation and maintenance of Beechwood Park.

While many of the townships surrounding the city of Alliance have become developed with various businesses and industries, Washington Township has remained primarily a rural, residential community. This largely agricultural setting has helped to set a standard for a lifestyle providing a great place to live and safely raise our families. With a population of just under 5,000, the township has seen a slow but stable growth and continues to support a largely agricultural or agriculturally related population. As the Alliance Community continues to push out its boundaries, it appears that Washington Township is destined to be a largely residential community as opposed to the business, commercial, and industrial development seen in other surrounding townships.

In an effort to stay current with the development and growth of the area, your trustees have worked to maintain a positive relationship with the city of Alliance, the Alliance Area Development Foundation, the Stark County Council of Governments, the Stark County Regional Planning Commission, and the Stark County Health Board. Recently, Washington Township entered into Cooperative Economic Development Agreements with the city of Alliance on two occasions, first with Washington Hills and second with the Caskey property just south of State Street along Beechwood Avenue. These agreements will allow the property to be annexed into Alliance but will provide for the property tax to continue to be paid into the township.

The township budget for 2002 is $1,115,502 and is primarily raised through inside millage, special revenue funds such as motor vehicle license tax, gasoline tax, road and bridge tax, estate tax and numerous other smaller funds. In addition, the voters of Washington Township have been continuously gracious to support two individual tax levies: One for the Road Department, which raises $ 96,000 annually, and another for the Fire Department, which raises $ 99,000 annually. In addition to the Road Department. and the Volunteer Fire Department, township funds are budgeted for the operation of Beechwood Park, the operation of the Zoning Department and a part time office secretary. At the present time police protection is provided for the township by the Stark County Sheriff's Department, which has responsibility for the unincorporated areas of the county.

In 2001, to make the township more accessible to its residents, trustees hired a part-time secretary to maintain office hours for the trustees. Marilyn Hoover is on duty daily Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The township telephone number is 330-821-9834. In addition to maintaining the office, Marilyn serves as recording secretary for the Zoning Board. In addition, the township has published its own website. In it you will be able to see the minutes of our latest meeting, a copy of our current zoning regulations, and many other interesting facts about your township. The site is available at Wash-Twp-Stark-Oh.us

Founded in 1950, the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department has 30 volunteers who are dedicated to serving our township. Under the leadership of Chief Terry Wilson and Assistant Chief Wade Main, the department made 186 responses in 200I. This accounted for 2,630 hours of volunteer service and $44,350 of loss as a result of fire and accidents. In addition to structure fires, these include vehicular accidents, grass fires, traffic control, first responder, rescue, carbon monoxide, community service, and numerous other related responses. Presently, the department operates five response vehicles: one rescue truck, one grass fire truck/pumper, one main line pumper, and two tank trucks. Over the years, 13 dry hydrants have been installed in those areas of the township where water supply is not readily available. In addition, to provide for emergency or additional needed manpower, mutual aid contracts are kept with all the surrounding fire departments, including the Alliance Fire Department. The volunteers of our Fire Department are dedicated to keeping current with the best methods and techniques in responding to the needs of our residents. In return, thanks to your support of the local fire levy, equipment is replaced in a timely manner and firefighters are kept trained and prepared to serve our township.

To provide for ambulance service to the residents of Washington Township, an ambulance contract is maintained with Rural Metro Ambulance Service. Under the terms of the agreement, Rural Metro will not charge residents of Washington Township for emergency service not covered by their individual insurance provider. To provide for a quicker response time, many of our volunteer fire fighters have been trained as First Responders and are in communication with Rural Metro often prior to arrival to the scene. To call for an ambulance or other emergency simply dial 911.

Washington Township maintains just over 40 miles of township roads and rights-of-way. Under the direction of Road Superintendent Ron Frank, our township roads and ditches are maintained on a regular basis. Over the past five years the township has maintained a paving program that is eliminating our chip and sealed roads and, in turn, results in some of the best township roads in the county. In 2001 our summer road program consisted of more than $180,000 of improvements. In 2002 our summer road program will consist of more than $150,000 of improvements and will continue with the paving program to eventually eliminate most chip and sealed roads. With your support of our local road levy, additional projects {including pipe replacement and ditch elimination) have been undertaken, and equipment is replaced in a timely manner.

In 1956 the residents of Washington Township voted the approval of zoning regulations for the township. Completely revised in 1987 and updated periodically since, the regulations are administered by Zoning Inspector Tom Schillig. Tom maintains regular office hours every Wednesday evening at the township hall (5843 Beechwood Ave.). Tom is aided in the decision-making process by the Zoning Commission which is appointed by the trustees and meets monthly at 7:30 the first Monday of every month. Presently, our Zoning Commission consists of President Valgene Shaffer, Elmer Weber, Don Funkhouser, Alan Swift, and Ed Witherspoon. To handle appeals to the zoning regulations, a Board of Zoning Appeals is appointed by the trustees. They generally meet on call and currently the board consists of Chairman Jim Hatherill, Secretary Mike Miller, Duane Raber, Phil Francis, and Jerry McCallum.

In 1994 the directors of Beechwood Park made the decision to donate the 11-acre park to the township. Under the daily direction of Chuck Egli, park director, the operation and maintenance decisions are developed by a Park Board. Currently, the Park Board consists of Chairman Mel Yarnell, Rod Stertzbach, Jim Greiner, Ray Faverty, Melva Jean Watson, Darrell Grimes, Bonnie Karlen, Jerry Haynam, David Kennedy, and Chuck Egli. To make reservations for either of the pavilions at the park call our township office at 330-821-9834. The park is operated by income from rentals and additional money budgeted out of the general fund of the township.

Through a grant program funded by the Stark-Wayne- Tuscarawas County Solid Waste District and operated out of the Stark County Regional Planning Office, residents of the township have an opportunity to recycle their household recyclables on a daily basis. The recycle site is located behind the township hall and is open daily from dawn to dusk. With the help of the Washington Ruritans, the site is maintained on a daily basis and manned on the second Saturday morning of each month.