Council authorizes contracts with townships
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Hillsboro City Council passed an emergency resolution Tuesday evening to authorize Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings to enter into a contract with area townships for EMS and fire services, at $22 per person for one year.
The city and townships are currently discussing the formation of a joint fire and ambulance district, with the hopes that it would be operational within the coming year. Hastings said Tuesday that he is optimistic about the future of the proposed district, although there still is a lot of work ahead.
"We're not going to have fire problems after this year, one way or another," Hastings said.
Liberty Township voted 3-0 during a meeting Monday night to accept the contract. Jackson, Hamer, New Market, Paint and Washington Townships must still vote on the contract, and are not scheduled to meet until March.
Council's finance, and street and safety committees met Monday, as well, and voted to recommend that council authorize Hastings to enter into the contract. Finance chairperson Peter Pence said Tuesday that the recommendation was based on discussions with Hastings and Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Richard Giroux regarding the fire district, and that any loss of funds could be mostly made up from other sources.
When the townships initially began negotiating for the 2012 contract with the city in the summer of 2011, the city offered a contract at $40 per person in each township. In previous contracts, the townships did not pay for EMS, and it was included with the fire services. In December, council voted to extend the contract - which was up Dec. 31, 2011 - by 60 days in order to allow more time for negotiations. That extension expires March 1. During council's Feb. 13 meeting, council voted 5-0 to authorize Hastings to enter into an agreement with area townships for fire and EMS coverage at $27 per person. Through their legal counsel, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, the townships counter-offered a three-year contract at $22 per person for 2012, $23 per person for 2013 and $24 per person for 2014. The city subsequently offered the proposed contract at $22.
The current contract will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012, and will end Dec. 31, 2012. It also contains a clause that states, "The trustees hereby notify the city that they intend to identify other service providers and/or consider other alternatives for providing fire and emergency medical services, starting Jan. 1, 2013."
The contract may also be terminated by either party, by giving 60 days notice.
Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis told council Tuesday that the 2012 budget was based on the proposed $27-per person contract. The loss, he said, will be taken out of street department paving funds.
"We initially passed a budget that included $100,000 transfered from the general fund for the purpose general paving projects," Lewis said. "That is really the only area that is going to be affected. It will be reduced down to about $40,000."
Lewis said that planned paving projects in the city will continue, with the city utilizing the state highway fund, and municipal motor vehicle licensing fees.
Council president Lee Koogler opened up the floor for council to discuss the contract and budget issues. With no discussion taking place, Koogler asked if council wished the pass the measure as an emergency. Council member Brian Waller made a motion to waive the three-reading rule, which was seconded by Dave Shoemaker, and passed 6-0. Waller then made a motion to pass the resolution, which was seconded by Bill Alexander, and passed 6-0.
Prior to the council meeting, the city administration had a private meeting on the proposed fire district, with one representative from each township anticipated to attend.
Hastings said there is a lot of planning and details to work out in order for them to move forward with the proposed district.
"They're just wanting more figures," Hastings told The Highland County Press following the council meeting. "Figures the auditor is providing. It's a slow process. I think we're going to be meeting every week."
Hastings said that a current obstacle is getting the townships to understand that this will be a joint ventures that Hillsboro is a part of, and will not longer have sole control over.
"People are often suspicious when you try to give away power," Hastings said. "They're not quite believing when you say you want to give away power you have, but that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to make it more of a democracy."
The proposed district would have a setup that would be similar to Highland District Hospital, Hastings said, with a board comprised of township representatives.
"The city will be just one member, just like any one of the townships," Hastings said. "There won't be any more city versus townships."
Lewis said that he agreed the organization would be similar to HDH in its leadership structure.
"It really would be just like HDH," Lewis said.
When asked if the new district would continue to utilize the current Hillsboro Fire and Rescue union contracts, or if a new contract would have to be entered into, Hastings and Lewis said that would depend on the district's board of trustees.
"Any new district would re-negotiate a new contract, I would suppose," Lewis said. "But that is one of those details that will have to be worked out."
Hastings said it is his perception that "there is a history of less than good faith" between the city and the townships, and that is an obstacle the administration is working to overcome.
The Hillsboro City Council passed an emergency resolution Tuesday evening to authorize Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings to enter into a contract with area townships for EMS and fire services, at $22 per person for one year.
The city and townships are currently discussing the formation of a joint fire and ambulance district, with the hopes that it would be operational within the coming year. Hastings said Tuesday that he is optimistic about the future of the proposed district, although there still is a lot of work ahead.
"We're not going to have fire problems after this year, one way or another," Hastings said.
Liberty Township voted 3-0 during a meeting Monday night to accept the contract. Jackson, Hamer, New Market, Paint and Washington Townships must still vote on the contract and are not scheduled to meet until March.
Council's finance and street and safety committees met Monday, as well and voted to recommend that council authorize Hastings to enter into the contract. Finance chairperson Peter Pence said Tuesday that the recommendation was based on discussions with Hastings and Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Richard Giroux regarding the fire district and that any loss of funds could be mostly made up from other sources.
When the townships initially began negotiating for the 2012 contract with the city in the summer of 2011, the city offered a contract at $40 per person in each township. In previous contracts, the townships did not pay for EMS, and it was included with the fire services. In December, council voted to extend the contract - which was up Dec. 31, 2011 - by 60 days in order to allow more time for negotiations. That extension expires March 1. During council's Feb. 13 meeting, council voted 5-0 to authorize Hastings to enter into an agreement with area townships for fire and EMS coverage at $27 per person. Through their legal counsel, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, the townships counter-offered a three-year contract at $22 per person for 2012, $23 per person for 2013 and $24 per person for 2014. The city subsequently offered the proposed contract at $22.
[[In-content Ad]]The current contract will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012 and will end Dec. 31, 2012. It also contains a clause that states, "The trustees hereby notify the city that they intend to identify other service providers and/or consider other alternatives for providing fire and emergency medical services, starting Jan. 1, 2013."
The contract may also be terminated by either party by giving 60 days' notice.
Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis told council Tuesday that the 2012 budget was based on the proposed $27-per person contract. The loss, he said, will be taken out of street department paving funds.
"We initially passed a budget that included $100,000 transfered from the general fund for the purpose general paving projects," Lewis said. "That is really the only area that is going to be affected. It will be reduced down to about $40,000."
Lewis said that planned paving projects in the city will continue, with the city utilizing the state highway fund and municipal motor vehicle licensing fees.
Council president Lee Koogler opened up the floor for council to discuss the contract and budget issues. With no discussion taking place, Koogler asked if council wished to pass the measure as an emergency. Council member Brian Waller made a motion to waive the three-reading rule, which was seconded by Dave Shoemaker and passed 6-0. Waller then made a motion to pass the resolution, which was seconded by Bill Alexander and passed 6-0.
Prior to the council meeting, the city administration had a private meeting on the proposed fire district, with one representative from each township anticipated to attend.
Hastings said there is a lot of planning and details to work out in order for them to move forward with the proposed district.
"They're just wanting more figures," Hastings told The Highland County Press following the council meeting. "Figures the auditor is providing. It's a slow process. I think we're going to be meeting every week."
Hastings said that a current obstacle is getting the townships to understand that this will be a joint ventures that Hillsboro is a part of, and will not longer have sole control over.
"People are often suspicious when you try to give away power," Hastings said. "They're not quite believing when you say you want to give away power you have, but that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to make it more of a democracy."
The proposed district would have a setup that would be similar to Highland District Hospital, Hastings said, with a board comprised of township representatives.
"The city will be just one member, just like any one of the townships," Hastings said. "There won't be any more city versus townships."
Lewis said that he agreed the organization would be similar to HDH in its leadership structure.
"It really would be just like HDH," Lewis said.
When asked if the new district would continue to utilize the current Hillsboro Fire and Rescue union contracts or if a new contract would have to be entered into, Hastings and Lewis said that would depend on the district's board of trustees.
"Any new district would re-negotiate a new contract, I would suppose," Lewis said. "But that is one of those details that will have to be worked out."
Hastings said it is his perception that "there is a history of less than good faith" between the city and the townships, and that is an obstacle the administration is working to overcome.