CONCORD TOWNSHIP – John Wiertel took his oath of office and a seat on the Concord Township Board of Trustees during a Wednesday, Jan. 21, meeting, serving out the unexpired term of Morgan McIntosh until a successor is elected.
Trustee Amy Lucci congratulated County Commissioner McIntosh on his appointment, saying he is the right fit for the job and has the leadership qualities and relationships in the community to be effective.
“Things look a lot different here,” she said.
She went on to say Wiertel has the experience to make him an ideal trustee, particularly regarding the Fire Station No. 2 project and developing a comprehensive plan.
Board Chair Carl Dondorfer said he’s known Wiertel since elementary school during the 1970s and he knows the new trustee has a passion for Concord Township.
He echoed Lucci in saying Wiertel’s experience will help along the fire station project and comprehensive plan.
Wiertel said, as a man of faith, he attends a daily morning devotional, and the morning after his appointment the topic was 1st Kings, Chapter 3, verse 9, when Solomon was commissioned by the Lord as ruler of Israel following the death of his father, King David.
“Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?” (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition).
“This is a calling, and I believe it,” Wiertel said. “God has a plan for me and everything happens for reasons.”
He closed by promising to give his “absolute best and 100 percent.”
In other business:
Fiscal Officer John Patriarca said he’s working on township appropriations for 2026 and will have them on the agenda soon.
In legislation:
• Adopting the 2025 Ohio Fire Code as the standard for the township.
• Reappointing Brian Falkowski as an alternate to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a term running Jan. 29, 2026-Jan. 28, 2028.
• Approving conditional offers of employment to Javier Guerrero and Logan Gunnoe as part-time Firefighter/EMT-Basic, effective Wednesday, Jan. 21, and pending completion of new-hire paperwork.
• Appointing Gavin Held to part-time Firefighter/Paramedic, effective Sunday, Jan. 11.
• Approving a professional services agreement for 2026 in an amount not to exceed $20,000 with SBJ Consulting LLC.
The board approved the following purchase orders:
• $12,500 to American Fireworks for the Community Day 2026 display.
• $22,794 to Phoenix Safety Outfitters for the purchase of firefighter turnout gear.
• $26,600 to Lake County Door for the replacement of five garage doors in the Service Department’s north building.
In administrative reports:
Township Administrator Andy Rose told the board he’s working on some paperwork with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has earmarked funding for the Fire Station No. 2 project. He said changes in the architect’s contract due to a name change require an updated contract to meet federal requirements.
The next regular session meeting of the Concord Township Board of Trustees is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 2, at 4 p.m. at Town Hall, 7229 Ravenna Road.
