AUSTINTOWN — Township trustees in a special meeting Monday suspended a $1-per-day late fee related to the 3 percent excise tax for hotels and motels for February, March, April and May in light of the novel coronavirus.

Township Administrator Michael Dockry said a hotel reached out and asked for the suspension. He also said two monthly reports have come in from a hotel without a check, and the revenue reported is down.

Hotels and motels will still be required to pay the 3 percent tax, but will not accumulate late fees for the affected months. It is not a waiver of the time limit to file.

In other news, trustees authorized Dockry to approve expenditures up to $10,000 in order to make timely approvals without requiring trustees to come to the administration building or meet in person. Department heads can spend up to $1,000, but usually need to wait for a trustees meeting for larger purchases.

Trustees also:

l Declared the following properties nuisances: 110 Dehoff Drive, 4018 Lanterman Road, 203 N. Main St., 221 S. Main St., 173 Rosemont Ave., 5547 Colgate Drive, 3974 Brandomyne Ave. and 103 S. Beverly Ave. Trustees also declared an inoperable white Suburban with an expired license plate at 121 North St., a junk vehicle;

l Opened an offer on a fire truck from Command Fire Apparatus, Landisville, Pa. The $149,900 bid is for a 2006 pumper with less than 50,000 miles and 5,000 hours. The township seeks a truck but has not yet approved a purchase;

l Approved participation in the Ohio Department of Transportation road salt contracts for 2020-21 winter, up to 2,600 tons of salt;

l Reminded citizens to fill out the U.S. census, as population has bearing on the funding the township receives. Those who have not completed the census should have received a letter with instructions on how to call in;

l Reminded residents that deadline for voting is April 28. Residents who have not voted can call the Mahoning County Board of Elections at 330-783-2474 to request a ballot;

l Announced there will be COVID-19 drive-thru testing at Austintown Fitch High School today and Wednesday. The testing is open to anyone, but those wishing to be tested must first call QUICKmed Urgent Care at 330-759-0085 and answer questions to determine if they are a candidate for testing;

l Reminded residents the playgrounds and basketball courts are closed, though parks remain open. Trustee Jim Davis said residents have been using the basketball courts and removing snow fencing that was placed around courts to comply with state orders to close areas that are high risk for the spread of COVID-19. Restrooms remain open and are cleaned several times per day, according to park supervisor Todd Shaffer;

l Reminded residents to continue to practice social distancing.

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