POLAND — Village council had a full agenda Oct. 17 and some items revolved around the village police department, and a report on the police levy from committee Treasurer Allison Dunham.

Poland Village has a five-year, 2.5-mill levy on the Nov. 7 ballot to fund the department’s operations and costs. The levy would cost approximately $88 per $100,000 of valuation and would raise $169,000 per year.

“The cost of running a police department has risen significantly,” Dunham said. “The cost of running the department has risen over 25% in the last seven years.”

Poland Village Police Chief Don Lambert said the village’s general fund is covering the costs, but that can’t go on forever.

“It takes $515,000 to operate the department,” he said.

The department is operating under a 1-mill levy that raises $54,000 annually. Dunham said it means the department is functioning on 10% of what it needs.

It has eight full-time officers and three part-time officers.

“Without this funding, I am concerned we will be losing some services,” Dunham said. “On a good note, everyone I have talked to so far has been very supportive.”

Lambert said the levy is “not for raises or new cars. It is to maintain the Poland Village Police Department.”

Also during the meeting, council was asked to approve $7,494 for police body cameras. The cost would come out of the law enforcement trust fund.

Lambert said the original approved amount for body cameras was $6,000. He said for that amount, his department would get a warranty for one year, but it might require other equipment.

The chief found another set of cameras that carried a three-year warranty and could use the server the department already had.

“It’s an additional $1,494 to the already approved amount,” Lambert said. “It will outfit every officer in the department.”

After a brief discussion, council unanimously approved the increased amount.

On a different matter, Council President Michael Thompson reported that the Western Reserve Joint Fire District’s board of directors has voted to reinstate the mutual aid agreement with Boardman once its ambulance is up and running. He said some are concerned the WRJFD is being overused, but that will be watched closely under the new mutual aid agreement.

In other business:

• Council unanimously approved meeting on election night (Nov. 7) instead of automatically moving it to the next day.

• A request was made by the Poland Junior Women’s Club to light the walkways around the Village for the Lighting of the Village Green for Christmas. Edison Lighting said the solution would be to bring in special lighting for the walkways, which would cost $150 to $250. The cost will be considered at a future meeting.

• Resident Kathy Miller asked about the street “walk signs” and, specifically, the ones at state Route 616 and U.S. Route 224, which don’t seem to be working. She was told that is the Ohio Department of Transportation’s responsibility.