POLAND TOWNSHIP — Trustees announced a partnership with Boardman trustees Thursday for the Clarence R. Smith Mahoning Valley First Responders Wellness Center.

It was a commitment that Poland Township police Chief Greg Wilson and Poland Trustee Eric Ungaro agreed was obviously the right move.

Wilson said he and Ungaro first learned about the center when Boardman police Chief Todd Werth invited them, along with Poland trustee Ed Kempers, to tour the facility.

The property is not too far from the Boardman Township Government Center off Market Street in Boardman. It is a good-sized property on Raupp Avenue, just off Washington Boulevard. The property was in the area of the historic horse racetrack and may have played a part in it.

Ungaro said Boardman not only received the donation of the property, but when the idea for the center came up, Boardman trustees committed $122,000 toward the renovations. Those funds, according to Ungaro, come from a “Big Pharma” lawsuit. The settlement was reached with several opioid distributors in 2021 and since then, multiple other settlements have been reached mostly for companies found liable for abuse in distribution of drugs like Oxycontin.

“We receive between $10,000-20,000 a year from this settlement,” Ungaro said. “It comes with stipulations on what we are allowed to use the money for.”

Wilson said his department had a tough time trying to find something that would meet the criteria of the opioid settlement, but the wellness center fell into an approved category.

“Our trustees wanted to be first on board,” Wilson said. “They are very supportive of our safety forces and wanted to make sure our first responders had a place to go and talk about things.”

Ungaro said the amount Poland Township is going to contribute has not been determined, but he did say the support is coming. The exact amount will be announced at the next trustees meeting.

Wilson said the structure on the property will house a wellness center with private rooms. He said the rooms can be used to talk privately about issues bothering a person, or for services such as chiropractic care.

“The rooms can be used for spiritual, mental, or physical services,” he said.

The main structure also will contain several meeting rooms that can be used for large group sessions. There is also a commercial kitchen planned, making for a great place for gathering and supporting one another, or even for all-day training sessions.

A 50-car parking lot is in the plans as well as a large outdoor running track.

Ungaro said a barn on the property will be converted to a large gym with various exercise equipment.

Wilson said the model for this center came from a trip Werth took to Columbus. He saw the center there and is bringing a lot of the ideas back home.

The center will serve not only police officers, but firefighters, paramedics and other first responders who spend their careers protecting others.

“This partnership reflects our deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by first responders and their families,” Wilson said. “By joining forces with Boardman Township, we are taking a proactive step in ensuring that those who protect and serve our communities receive the support they deserve.”