Hanover Township opens new $2.5M emergency services center

Hanover Township officials celebrated the opening of a new $2.5 million emergency services center, a project years in the making that township leaders say will transform public safety.

The facility, built with funding from a 3.1-mill levy approved by voters in 2023 and a $250,000 allocation from the state capital budget, will serve as the new home for the township’s volunteer fire department and EMS crews.

“This is the culmination of a project we’ve been discussing for many years,” said Hanover Township Trustee John Zehentbauer. “Our residents overwhelmingly supported the levy, which gave us the opportunity to build this center.”

Zehentbauer noted that the township’s two aging fire stations couldn’t house an ambulance or modern facilities. That often meant residents were left waiting for outside ambulance services 30 to 40 minutes away. “Now we have our own ambulance here in town, which will really help us, help the other ambulance services and help our community and the region,” he said.

State Sen. Al Cutrona (R-OH) helped secure state funding for the project. He called the facility an example of strong collaboration between state and local governments.

“This is a great example of collaboration from both the state and local working together,” Cutrona said. “I was honored to play a small part in helping get the funding to build this. This is a big win for Columbiana County and for Hanover Township.”

Township leaders also praised the volunteer firefighters who will operate out of the building, calling them the heart of the community. Zehentbauer said the new station ensures those volunteers now have the resources and infrastructure they need to respond effectively.

Crews are expected to begin operating out of the new emergency services center on Sept. 1.