Mike Jones

New body cameras

Those who are pulled over by a Sylvania Township police officer may get a ticket but now they will get a cameo apparance in the video being produced by the police officer as well.

Police Chief Paul Long said the department’s new body-worn cameras are to be turned on by officers whenever they are in contact with members of the general public. The department’s patrol officers have been told it doesn’t matter if it’s following a chase of a potential criminal or a routine traffic stop, the cameras are to be turned on before individual contact.

The body-worn cameras were recently delivered to the department along with new dashboard cameras for the department’s vehicles. The $400,000 five-year contract with Getac also includes cameras for the two police interview rooms and a new system for storing and transmitting the images from the cameras.

The chief said a replacement for dashboard cameras was necessary because those in use were nearing the end of their useful life. The cost of the new system was partially defrayed by a state grant of about $84,000.

Buildings removal

Sylvania Township trustees have authorized the removal of buildings at 5202 Trellis Way. The resolution authorizing the removal notes the buildings have been inspected by the Sylvania Township Fire Department and found to be “unsecure, unsafe, or structurally defective.”

The property has a house and a detached garage. Shane Hillard, fire marshal with the Sylvania Township Fire Department, said in a report that he first visited the property in August 2020 at the request of the Sylvania Township planning and zoning department. At that time he found the house to be “run down,” but it appeared to still be structurally sound. During an inspection in October, 2021, the fire marshal found the house was “open and unsecure.” He added that the house “shows significant deterioration.” The marshal noted the roof, walls and ceiling pose a risk for possible collapse, rendering this location unsafe.

Oliver Turner, Sylvania Township administrator, said the structures will be removed with help from the Lucas County Land Bank. The land bank has grant funds for this circumstance and can grant the township up to $12,500. The recorded property owners are deceased and no one has shown any interest in the property.

Township website

Sylvania Township is reminding residents that it is revamping its website and is seeking users’ opinions concerning the site, which is considered a major resource for sharing township information with the public.

Samantha Didion, executive assistant and IT coordinator for the township, said that as the site is updated the township is seeking opinions on what the public might want more of, or potentially less of. Those who visit the site, sylvaniatownship.com, will be presented with a survey asking for their input on the content of the updated site.

The site will continue to have basic and historical information on its departments and news stories of current township events. Sylvania Township is working with Flanders Creatives, a township-based agency to build the revamped website.