Lafayette Township Firefighters' Association

04/26/2026

Last all-you-can-eat Beakfast of 2026!!! Come and get it, open until 1p!

04/17/2026

Way to go team!! Great job!

04/11/2026

Yes, the Breakfast is on!! See you all tomorrow!!

All remaining Sundays in April! Prices listed all over our page. Cash, check, card all accepted!

The Lafayette Township Firefighters' Association will host its annual pancake breakfast this Sunday, along with April 19 and April 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lafayette Township Fire Department, 6367 Technology Lane.

04/01/2026

** Sadly, not an April Fool’s Joke!! **

TRUSTEE PEROLI CANCELS ANNUAL BREAKFAST UNLESS WE GIVE IN!

As expected, given recent events, the Lafayette Township Board of Trustees have backed us into a corner. Either we comply with their newly created and completely targeted “Facility Use Policy” or we will have to cancel the Annual Breakfast that is scheduled to begin in less than two weeks. That means advertising dollars wasted. Prep time wasted. With any luck we will be able to cancel the couple items we rent for the event without losing our deposits.

Earlier this year at the February 3rd, they created a new “Township Facility Use Policy for Nongovernment Entities” as part of Resolution # 2026-21 (visit lafayettetownshipoh.gov for view all recent resolutions). This legislation was created to target the Association and greatly crimple our ability to raise funds to support various community programs and organizations as well as the primary recipient of most of the funds raised, the Lafayette Township Fire District.

While there are many issues with how the resolution was passed as well as the various updates it received before being posted publicly, a discussion for another day, it was very evident at the February 17th meeting that this was going to affect more than the Firefighters’ Association and not much thought had been discussed prior as to how it would affect other organizations. The ‘deer in the headlights’ look on Trustee Peroli face when asked by community member Mr. McCurdy, if this new policy was going to apply to the baseball organization that has been using ballfields on Wedgewood, “Township Facilities”, for many, many years, much like us, would now have to fill-out a request form for every game, every practice, Funerals services, etcetera really told a story. The hesitation and ad-libbing that the answer required was obvious. See the Video of the Feb. 17th meeting around the 80min mark.

Interestingly as well during this same meeting, the Board quickly and quietly approved Resolution 2026-24 rescinding Resolution 17-2024 within their ‘Consent Agenda’. Resolution 17-2024 was created by the previous administration in direct response to the option given by the Medina Co. Prosecutor’s office. This resolution granted the Firefighters’ Association continued use of the Fire District facilities for community events and fundraisers, as it had been done for decades previous.

During the March 3rd meeting, LTFA submitted request to use the station for our monthly meetings for the entire 2026 year, as well as the Annual Breakfasts in April. Both requests were discussed (approx. 11:30 mark of video). On March 4th we received an email from the Township Admin. Assistant with an attached .pdf of the approved/signed application with no ‘Conditions’ listed. Trustee Peroli states in the video that there was some confusion about a few ‘Certifications’. There was no confusion, we initialed the ones we agreed with, F/A =Fire Association and N/A for Not applicable and the Board motioned, Approved, and signed it. So, the question is, was that approval considered an ‘conditional approval’ and why did we feel three of the Certifications are not applicable? I will outline them below:

“This use is not for political campaigning or partisan activities”

As a 501(c)(3) we are Federally prohibited from political campaigning or partisan activities. For anyone that has attended any of our events over the last 20+ years, we have never done this, even prior to receiving our 501 status. If members from the community running for office attend the event and use it to network, that has never been prohibited, but it also does not include or imply an endorsement. Previous Board members invited politician all the time as a way to promote the Township and see our facilities, we have never invited a single one. Many years ago we did host a Meet the Candidate night, but again never endorsed anyone!

“The use will not include advocacy for or against any candidate, levy, bond issue, or ballot measure”

Some of the current Board members are upset that we supported the recent fire levy (see attached timeline). Why would a Firefighters’ Association, with its membership made-up of nearly all firefighters (98%), many residing in the township, support a local Fire Levy that directly affect the members of the Fire District? While most will not have a problem answering that question, it was legal and nothing, but personal egos were damaged by our support. The bottom line is, nobody will dictate how we spend the money we raise, only our membership will as long as it legal and doesn’t violate any federal restrictions as the result of our 501 status. Do those same Board members attempt to tell St. Jude’s, the Red Cross, or Tunnel-to-Towers how to spend their donations?

“The Organization agrees to comply with all conditions imposed by the Board”

When filling out the application the organization making the application has no idea what ‘conditions’ will be added if approved. No one should sign an application waiving all rights prior to knowing what in fact they are. As you will see from the attached application, they can add all sorts of fees and handwritten conditions during the approval process. Until we are aware of what those fees and conditions are, we are not going to waive our rights to review them. In addition, by initialing this one, it would also bind us to the previous two we already disagree with.

The following day, on March 4th, we received a copy of the signed application approval (green highlight) from the Township Office Admin. No mention of condition on the document (attached, red box) or in the email. Five days later on March 9th we received another email stating the previous approval was conditional and needed to be corrected.

Sadly, this was all completed with only two Trustees as the 3rd previously elected one had already resigned. A new Trustee was appointed during the same March 3rd meeting, but was not involved with the creation of this new policy or any of the decisions made up to this point. Then no mention was made of the missing conditions at the March 17th meeting with all three Trustees present. Then last night, March 31st it was brought up again when only two Board members were present. No discussion of the Board just Mr. Peroli expressing his dictator, I mean, Chairman authority.

It’s funny how a guy so into the Boogaloo Movement, as well documented on his personal FB page, has done so much to push for more government control versus less during his time as an elected official and now wants to interrupt a 50 year community tradition that has done nothing but raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years that has directly benefited the Township he was entrusted to help govern, over a questionable policy and application that hasn’t even been well reviewed or vetted…

In the Policy it states the policy was adopted and supported by; “Applicable opinions of the Ohio Attorney General and Medina County Prosecutor’s Office”. Yet no records from the Ohio Attorney General were sent from Lafayette after the record request was made. A separate record request was also sent to the Ohio Attorney General, and they responded that ‘no such record(s) could be found’.

During recent public meetings, as well as in other FB posts, documents have been mentioned or referenced. We have included many of them in this post so everyone is on the same page and can draw their own thoughts and opinions. Over the last two years the Firefighters’ Association has been constantly attacked in a targeted attack of pure malice. We have been conducting business for over 67yrs in the Township. The core of what we do has not changed or even wavered during that time. While I can only speak personally for the last 23+ years, I have spent plenty of time talking to the those that came before me and many of their family members to confidently say, nothing has changed.

You often hear people ask, why does no one volunteers anymore... This is exactly why! Please call a Board member, show your support! Share with ten friends or neighbors! Send ten emails! We want to do this event, but we can’t waive our rights and give up our independence! We only have a day, or two, before we MUST make that difficult decision! Let us know what you think!

Thank you,
Steven Kile – President
Lafayette Township Firefighters’ Association

02/17/2026

Well, as many of you already know, for approximately two years now there has been a small number of individuals who have continued to cause the Association nothing but grief. A couple of those individuals are now elected Trustees.

At no point has the Association ever endorsed a candidate nor can we! Members of the Association are welcome to vote for who they want, it's the best part of living in this great nation. After confirming with counsel and our CPA, we have in fact supported levies that directly were in-line with our mission statement, benefiting the safety and well-being of our community. The support was minimal and in no way would meet the threshold of lobbying.

During the Trustee meeting on February 2nd, a new resolution was introduced and approved, Resolution #2026-21, by two of the three Trustees (the third one hasn't decided to come to work yet this year and apparently is resigning per the posted agenda for tomorrow’s meeting). This resolution introduced the newly created “Township Facility Use Policy for Non-Governmental Entities.” While careful not to specifically call out any organization by name, it clearly is a direct attack on the Firefighters’ Association. They want to claim it is to ensure “Township property is managed in a manner that protects public assets, preserves governmental functions, and avoids preferential treatment,” and that they are creating “neutral, consistent, and transparent standards.” I do not know about you, but nothing of the last six weeks has been neutral, consistent, or transparent. While I do have several unofficial copies of it, I’m still awaiting the formal signed copy to be posted to their website as well as other recently requested documents.

In my nearly 24 years working for the Township, and nearly 16 of those years as an officer of the Association, I do not recall one time when any other non-government organization requested to use the facility for an event of any kind. I don’t even recall a single station tour event for any organization being turned down or denied. Many of those tours were given by Association members at no cost to the Township. While you will likely hear otherwise, I would ask you to ask for receipts from those making those claims. So, who else would this new policy be directed toward other than the Firefighters’ Association?

While I can’t recall the exact number, maybe 15 or so similar Associations within Medina County, I’ve never heard of any of them having a policy like this with their partnering governing bodies? I say this as I was very active in the Medina County Firemen’s Association for well over a decade, visited every department in the County regularly, many in Townships just like Lafayette and yet never heard of such a policy. I suppose maybe in recent years there may be some now, I’ll be sure to watch the comments and if you know of one, please let me know!

Let’s add some context for those new to the area and would like to learn some history. The Lafayette Township Firemen’s Association was formed in 1959 (documents are available online), and while the name and the mission statement has changed somewhat over the years, it has never wandered far from its core, Lafayette Township! In the beginning, it was about acquiring some property and creating a park area for the benefit of its members. Since then, we absorbed the Chippewa Lake Firemen’s Association and in 2015, we were approved as a 501(c)(3). Over the years, we have worked seamlessly in conjunction with the Fire Department (District) and Township Board of Trustees. While we are 100% a private organization, over 95% of our members are employees of the Fire Department (District). What that means is the same individual who shows up at 3 a.m. on a Saturday morning when you are possibly having the worst night of your life is the same person who will be serving you pancakes at the Fire Station during the Association’s Annual Breakfast. The only difference is the T-shirt the individual may be wearing.

So now, after 67 years, the new Board is concerned that we may damage or misuse the building and equipment within it that we personally rely on to do our daily job (keep in mind, we carry our own Liability Insurance for all events)? So, when we change our T-shirt, we are no longer the responsible individuals who are trusted with a now $750,000 engine or $250,000 rescue squad with narcotics in it? Have they forgotten the Association bought many of the early trucks this Township had? Have they forgotten we are the ones who paid for, and provided much of the labor to build the additions at the previous stations? Have they forgotten the over $30,000 in appliances and furnishings, as well as the $7,000 we spent on a Station Alerting System for the new station? They could not possibly forget the $100,000-plus that we donated from the former Hillard Family Foundation to purchase the department’s side-by-side, trailer, some SCBAs, turnout gear, and so much more. This list doesn’t even begin to include multiple thermal imagers, nozzles, apparatus tool-mounting expenses, computers, software, gas detectors, CPR training equipment, AEDs, complete Milwaukee cordless tools for every piece of apparatus and the station, and the on-going Memorial Garden. Many do not know this, but the Association covers the cost of all daily consumables at the station. When have you ever heard the Chief make a requisition for coffee, creamer, condiments, or paper products (plates, napkins, etc.) for nearly every event, training, and meeting held at the station all year long, Association event or not?

I welcome anyone and everyone who has been involved with, benefited from, or has supported this Association in the past to please get involved! Without your continued help and support, community events like the Annual Breakfast, Night at the Races, and Visit from Santa may not be possible. You see, they purposely included verbiage like, “The Board retains the authority to approve, deny, condition, limit, or revoke permission for use… at any time and to amend or repeal the facility use policy as it deems necessary or appropriate.” How do we plan an event that requires months of planning and thousands of dollars of expenses just to have one of them ‘change their mind’, you know, like they did a few years back with one of our events or the guy who recently ran for an elected position and then changed his mind about fulfilling it…

Respectfully,
Steven Kile – President
Lafayette Township Firefighters’ Association

01/25/2026

Be advised!

If you don't have to go, don't!! Give plows plenty of room! If you have a hydrant on your property, please clear it in case it's needed.

January 25, 11:19am Medina County Sheriff's Office is issuing a Level 2 Snow Emergency Level.

01/23/2026

We’re so excited to invite you to spend a fun, cozy morning with your family and neighbors at our Annual Pancake Breakfast this April!
Come enjoy delicious pancakes, great company, and quality time with the people who make our community special. We can’t wait to see you there!

12/23/2025

12/23/2025

Sorry for the delay in this post, had it all complete Saturday night and sadly lost is before it was posted. So here I go again....

HUGE shout out to all those that took time out of their schedules to help this years event! There are a number of individuals that spend countless hours in the background to bring it all together and the deserve a shout out!

Trustee O'Neil and Fullerton, I can personally say with over 20+yrs experience with this event, the meals that you have provided the crews over the last number of years has been nothing short of amazing! The smoked briquet this year was yet another great example of that! While there still a big debate on the actual origins of the green bean casserole, it was still very good! The time and costs it takes to create that meal every year for 20-30 people does not go unnoticed! THANK YOU and who took the left-overs???

The Medina Police Department (Ohio), thanks for always supporting our events and having our backs!

Justin and the crew over at A Licursi Creations Christmas Story, you guys are the bomb!! Thanks for allowing us to crash your party again this year and share in the Christmas spirt with you. You are right, the memories made last a lifetime! Huge thank you to anyone in line when we arrive, your patience and understanding also does not go un noticed. Justin, we do have a couple ideas for traffic flow next year, lets chat.... If you are looking for a place to make a last minute donation, be sure to get over to Justin's page and join us in donating to a great local cause. Every year they sponsor a local family with an extraordinary story and this year is no different! Every penny helps!

Of course we have to thank the Lafayette Township Fire Department! Without the continued collaboration with the fire district, many of the events we do would not be possible. You see while many think we are one in the same, we most certainly are not. Yes many of the same people are involved with both, but not all. We have very similar missions, but they are a government entity and have to work within the laws and policies of that entity and we are not. We are non-profit 501c3. No one in the association receives any compensation for their time, they are 100% volunteers.

I saved the best for last.... the residence of Lafayette Township, Village of Chippewa Lake and the Village of Gloria Glens, you all are why we do what we do! It's not the pay, certainly not the politics, it you! It's the smiles we get every year as your kid comes running out of the house with no coat or shoes on when it's 20° out to see Santa and the big noisy red trucks.

THANK YOU ALL for your continued support and for another great year!!!

12/20/2025

Rt #4, hey Glens, your up!!