German Township, Clark County, Ohio

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About Townships

Townships were the “first form of local government” in Ohio and were plotted according to a basic policy for the survey and sale of public lands. With the formation of the Ohio Territory under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, six-mile township squares were used as the primary means of establishing local civil governments in the territory. Since the adoption of the 1851 Ohio Constitution, the basic form of township government has remained relatively unchanged. Governed by three elected Trustees serving four-year terms, this Board of Township Trustees is the legislative authority and also fulfills many executive responsibilities as well.

A fourth elected official, Township Fiscal Officer (formerly known as Clerk), is independent of the Trustees yet by law must work closely with the Trustees. The Township Fiscal Officer’s duties include the recording of township proceedings and keeping records of township fiscal accounts.

There are over 1,300 townships in Ohio today. While they all operate under the basic form of township government, they are quite varied in the size of population, annual operating budget, and range of services delivered to township residents. Townships most commonly provide residents with services such as road maintenance, cemetery management, police protection, fire protection, emergency medical services (EMS), solid waste disposal, and zoning. For example, Ohio townships have direct responsibility for maintaining approximately 41,000 miles of roads and streets, and townships manage over 1,800 township cemeteries.

Township Responsibilities

Township Roads:
The maintenance and repair of township roads is the largest function of most of Ohio’s townships today and includes such activities as snow removal and weed control. Ohio townships receive part of the state’s motor vehicle license fees and gasoline tax, as well as generating additional revenues through local taxation to fund road maintenance.

Police Protection:
A Board of Township Trustees has the authority to employ police constables, to create police districts, or to contract with neighboring jurisdictions for police protection. Ohio township police officers or constables are required to receive basic training in the duties of a police officer.

Fire Protection/EMS:
Township fire departments are staffed with full-time or volunteer firefighters or a combination of both. Ohio law permits townships and municipalities to contract with each other for mutual fire protection/EMS.

Cemeteries:
Townships manage over 1,800 township cemeteries. The Township Trustees have the authority to sell plots, set fees for services, maintain the cemetery, and provide for expansion. Private cemeteries owned by religious or cemetery associations may be transferred to the township.

Emergency

Fire/EMS/Police: 911

Non-Emergency

Police: 937-966-0999
Fire/EMS: 937-964-8994
Sheriff: 937-328-2560

History of German Township

German Township is one of the ten townships of Clark County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 7,336 people in the township, 7,012 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township. The township covers approximately 34 square miles. It is one of five German Townships in the state of Ohio.

The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1. Two are elected in the year after the presidential election and one is elected in the year before it. There is also an elected township fiscal officer,[5] who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election, which is held in November of the year before the presidential election. Vacancies in the fiscal officership or on the board of trustees are filled by the remaining trustees.

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Main Office 937-964-1661 | Township Trustee Meetings 2nd Tuesday of each month | 3940 Lawrenceville Dr. Springfield, Ohio 45504