The Perrysburg Township Fire Department is participating in the Meijer Simply Give food pantry program.

The program will enable the township to feed hungry families in the community, explained Bob Warnimont at the township trustees November 16 meeting.

“Our community continues to feel the impact of COVID-19, and food pantries are seeing increased demand,” said Mr. Warnimont, who heads the monthly food giveaway in the township.

“The economic impact means more members of our community are turning to us for help and to ensure they know where their next meal will come from,” he said, noting the township’s food pantry has seen a 25 percent increase in demand.

Mr. Warnimont said in response, Meijer stepped up with its Simply Give hunger relief program. Area residents can help by visiting the Meijer store in Rossford now through December 31 and purchasing a $10 Simply Give donation card.

“The cards are then converted into Meijer food-only gift cards and given to the township food pantry,” he explained.

Customers also may purchase cards when shopping online by adding on a Simply Give donation card to their orders.

“I want to encourage everyone to help us fulfill our mission of helping feed the hungry in the Perrysburg area by purchasing a food donation card during your next shopping trip, because every dollar makes a difference,” Fire Chief Tom Brice said.

Police Report

Police Chief Mark Hetrick presented his report along with the detective’s report for the past month.

The trustees approved several purchases for the department including the expenditure of $86,000 for two police cruisers from Reineke Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, and $8,490 to P&R Communications for equipment for the vehicles.

Chief Hetrick noted that last month, the department received 1,788 calls and to date this year, they responded to 15,499.

The majority of October calls were for traffic stops, 319; dwelling checks, 272; incidents, 119; traffic crashes, 52; suspicious activity, 19; fraud, 12; theft, 11, and drugs, five.

There also were seven domestic dispute calls and three menacing/harassments.

The detective division is investigating new cases involving rape, fire death and fraud. They continue to work with outside agencies on other investigations, the chief said.

Detectives recently closed by arrest or indictments three child pornography and drug manufacturing cases.

A number of cases remain active and pertain to converter theft, auto theft, fraud, harassment, stalking and overdose death.

Other Business

In other business, the trustees:

•Heard from Marvin Conner, road and maintenance supervisor, that leaf pick up is nearing an end. “We have been working 10-hour days and Saturdays,” he said. “Our guys are pretty tired.”

Mr. Conner said there are still a few places where leaves have yet to fall, but assured the trustees they would continue until all leaves have fallen.

•Authorized Griffin Pavement Striping to stripe some additional roads at a cost of $10,151.

•Approved a purchase order of $49,997 for a GMC truck through Cronin GMC of Perrysburg. Mr. Conner said this will allow the dealership to order one truck for the department.

•Approved a uniform accounting network software agreement for the fiscal office at a cost of $325 per month.

•Appropriated $7,000 for the township’s bicentennial celebration in 2023. Trustee Gary Britten said township resident JD Justus is organizing the event in May but needs funds to secure some rental items.

“JD is working on sponsorships and is hoping at the end of the day, it won’t cost us anything,” Mr. Britten added.

Trustee Joe Schaller noted that Mr. Justus is engaging with department supervisors and incoming administrator Jon Eckel on plans and what they would like to see.

The next trustees meeting will be at 4 p.m., Wednesday, December 7 at the township meeting hall, 26609 Lime City Road, and is open to the public.