It took more than two years, but Brookfield trustees have finished the work of allocating more than $870,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

The federal money was given to governmental entities to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the trustees hired a law firm, Baker, Dublikar, Beck, Wiley and Mathews of North Canton, to guide them in their allocations.

“I’m overly impressed with how we stretched this money to cover different areas,” said Trustee Dan Suttles. “We reached out to the public for their input and used some of that.”

The money had to be allocated by Dec. 31, but it does not have to be spent until the end of 2026. Some of the projects the trustees allocated money for will be completed this year.

Each of the township’s three departments bought new equipment with township ARPA funds, and the township park and the township green also benefited. The township banquet hall and meeting room at the administration building were renovated and a couple of road projects were enhanced by ARPA money.

Suttles noted that former Trustee Dion Magestro suggested taking care of “stuff you already have,” and the trustees kept that in mind when they replaced leaking fuel storage tanks, updated the gazebo in the center, built a carport for police and other township vehicles, pressure washed the administration building and replaced play equipment at the park.

“We spent it very prudently and wisely,” said Trustee Mark Ferrara, adding that “Very few of these (projects) could have been done on their own,” without ARPA.

“We changed the face of the township,” Shannon Devitz said.

Here is how the trustees spent the money:

Public Spaces

  • Replacing play equipment, applying mulch and buying picnic tables at Brookfield Township Community Park, $37,824.
  • Replacing the roof and renovating the township banquet hall, $88,458.
  • Installing picnic tables on the township green $3,677.
  • Installing natural gas generators at the administration building and the fire and road department building, $81,948.
  • Renovating the gazebo on the township green, $8,570.
  • Paving the loading/unloading/parking area at the green, $27,193.
  • Buying new folding chairs and carts for the administration building meeting room and banquet hall, $7,122.
  • Building a disc golf course at the park, $32,454.

Administration building

  • Installing a carport at the administration building, $45,262.
  • Replacing the static sign at the entrance to the administration building with an electronic model, $36,420.
  • Renovating the meeting room, $4,134.
  • Pressure washing the building, $2,584.
  • Upgrading the exterior lighting, $3,160.
  • Replacing the entrance doors, $19,000.
  • Replacing chairs in the trustees’ conference room, $3,145.
  • Paving the parking lot, $74,570.
  • Installing a kitchenette for use by township employees, $7,980.

Road projects

  • Replacing a culvert on Hubbard Thomas Road, $32,275.
  • Replacing a culvert on North Albright McKay Road, $14,000.

Police department

  • Buying three-way radios to give police officers access to the Ohio Multi-Agency Radio Communication System, as well as traditional UHF and VHF channels, $23,667.
  • Buying ballistic helmets and shields, $24,021.
  • Buying a utility vehicle for use at public events and searches for missing persons, and a trailer to transport it, $20,702.

Road department

  • Buying a new dump truck, $108,325.

Fire department

  • Buying a new pickup, $40,000.
  • Buying an infrared sauna, $5,895.

Miscellaneous

  • Developing a township phone app, $9,320.
  • Legal services, $196.
  • Replacing the gasoline and diesel fuel tanks used by township employees, $67,277.
  • Renovating an unused racquetball court at the fire department for use as an exercise room for all employees, $30,760.
  • Upgrading software on township computers to give greater firewall protection, $4,362.
  • Installing a transfer switch on the natural gas generator at the fire and road department complex, $4,500. 
  • Donating to the Brookfield Local School District pantry, $1,951.