Brunswick Hills looking into putting police renewal levy on ballot

BRUNSWICK HILLS TWP. — Brunswick Hills is looking into putting a five-year police renewal levy on the ballot this year and is considering eventually seeking additional funding for public safety services. Levies were discussed at the Brunswick Hills trustees meeting on Thursday. Police Chief Tim Sopkovich said about $2.3 million is generated for the police department across three levies. A 2.5-mill levy was passed in 2016, and renewed in 2021,now bringing in $845,000 annually. "When I took over the department, I had seven men, and now I'm up to 15," he said. "I upgraded (information technology) stuff, upgraded the building, and I've done a lot with that money and the funds that come on that five-year levy. Once it renewed, with a slight increase, I was able to maintain operations and keep the manpower that I had." The department has been taking on more cases and only has one full-time detective, Sopkovich said. He also said he needs to prepare the community for the Cleveland Browns stadium coming to Brook Park. "There's going to be some type of a concert or something going on there every weekend," he said. "That's only going to spill over into our community with our hotels and I-71 traffic coming in." An increase in funding will be needed for the police department to continue to provide service long term for the growing community, Sopkovich said. "I would appreciate looking at what we can do, not just to get me through the next five years, but also look at the community and what we're going to take to the future in 10 years," he said. The concept of a public safety levy was suggested, which could financially benefit more than just the police department. "I think that might be a better sell that they're looking at this helping both police and fire," Sopkovich said. "It's bringing in more for the township as a whole. Some of our big purchases — computers, fire trucks, police cars, something like that — that fund (would be) available." Trustee Thomas DeCastra said the township should at least move forward with putting the police renewal levy on the ballot in May, so there are two opportunities for the levy to pass. "That way, if it passes in May, we can all sit back and take a breath, and the police will have funding for the next five years," he said. "Then, we can start conversations about November if we want to look at some other type of more comprehensive structure for our safety forces and roads and try to put that on the November ballot." To put a levy on the May ballot, it must be filed with the Medina County Board of Elections by Feb. 4. "I'm good with what I have right now in reserves to continue on with renewing my current levy," Sopkovich said. "If there is a public safety levy, then that would help, I think, the community as a whole on all services." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.