BOARDMAN — This week’s trustees meeting started with a pair of honors, the first directed to police Chief Todd Werth.

“We appreciate Chief Werth’s support,” said Susan Krawchyk, Mahoning County Veterans Administration executive director. “We decorate and care for the bridge over Interstate 680, and the chief has always supported us with a police presence.”

Dale Baringer, MCVA commissioner, said his organization cares for three bridges: one on state Route 46 over I-80 in Austintown, one on Mahoning Avenue over state Route 11 in Austintown, and one on Western Reserve Road over I-680 in Boardman.

Baringer said when the members come out to place flags and clean debris from the bridges, Werth ensures a police presence to protect the veterans. For that and other support, the MCVA decided to honor him with an American Eagle award.

Next, Trustee Tom Costello read a proclamation for Sam’s Club, for the support the Boardman business gave to the police department during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, Sam’s Club reached out to us with cleaning supplies, water and other items we couldn’t get,” Costello said.

He said Sam’s Club provided the cleaners to disinfect patrol cars, and helped out with any supplies that were needed. He added the business helped out other entities as well.

“They really stepped up,” Werth added. “Not just with a few items here and there, but with pallets.”

No one was at the meeting to accept the proclamation, but the trustees have a plaque that will be delivered to the store, commemorating the proclamation.

On a different issue, fire Chief Mark Pitzer had two resolutions on the agenda. The first was to retract a motion to purchase a 2022 red Chevrolet Silverado at a cost of $42,365. The second motion was to approve the purchase of a 2023 red Chevrolet Silverado at a cost of $47,969 from Sweeney Chevrolet of Boardman.

Pitzer explained the new truck is to replace a 2013 command truck for the fire department. Because of the chip shortages, the 2022 truck would take 12 to 18 months to obtain under state purchasing.

“Sweeney Chevrolet traded inventory to get us a truck now,” Pitzer said.

He told trustees the truck was ready to go at Sweeney’s. Trustees unanimously approved the two resolutions enabling the fire department to get the vehicle.

In other business:

• Trustees approved an agreement with Palo Creative for the creation and execution of a marketing campaign for recruiting new police officers and dispatchers. The agreement was for a one-time fee of $18,250, which will be reimbursed through a 2022 Ohio Recruiting Grant.

• Trustees unanimously approved requesting certification of the 2.9-mill general fund renewal levy and the 2.2- mill police and fire renewal levy, so they can be placed on the November ballot.

• Trustees adopted a resolution declaring a garage at 38 Homestead Drive as a nuisance and ordering its abatement.