Decisions pending on Fire/EMS

Some major decisions regarding the future of EMS and fire protections services are pending within the coming week for some city and township officials.

During the annual firefighter's parade held during the 2012 Festival of the Bells Thursday, current and former Hillsboro firefighters - along with their colleagues in neighboring counties - took an opportunity to remind area residents that they still have time to weigh-in before a final decision is made.

Many firefighters in the parade wore t-shirts that read, "Tell Council No" and handed out flyers that listed the home and cell phone numbers of city council members. The flyers noted the date of the July 9 council meeting, and encouraged residents to voice their opinions to their council representatives.

Ryan Passet, the secretary/treasurer of IAFF Local 2972, told The Highland County Press Thursday that on Aug. 25, it will be the 155th year of the Hillsboro Fire Station.

"Most of the people walking in the parade were firefighters who have been laid off, and their families," Passet said, while current staff members rode in the city fire trucks.

Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings has proposed to the Hillsboro City Council that the fire department be "abolished" and that the city contract with the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District for services.

After months of negotiations with the city regarding the services, some area townships have considered similar options. On Tuesday, the New Market Township trustees voted 2-1 to joint the Paint Creek fire district. Liberty Township trustees voted 2-1 on a similar motion on June 29, but because a date for services was not included in the motion, they will meet again in a special session Friday at noon. Trustees Steve Lerch and Jerry Williams voted in favor of joining, and trustee John McLaughlin voted against.

A vintage ladder wagon, owned by former Hillsboro Fire and Rescue Chief Tom Stephens, was featured in the parade Thursday, bearing signs that read "Help us save the Hillsboro fire department" and "Tell council No."

"The ladder wagon is one of the original apparatuses of the Hillsboro fire department," Passet said. "We've been here almost 155 years, and we're trying to keep the Hillsboro Fire Department here in Hillsboro. It's a community parade and a fireman's parade put on by the firefighters. We're getting the information out there to the community. The people who come to the parade are the people who pay for the fire department, and who are served by it. We took the opportunity to spread our message. We feel they are the most important factor."

The Liberty Township trustees will meet in a special session on Friday at noon in the Liberty Township Building on Moore Road. The initial advertised purpose had been to determine date to join the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District, and for discussion in regard to the renewal of the fire fund certificate.

On Thursday, McLaughlin, trustee chairman, submitted a new agenda for the meeting, which Lerch and Williams said they had not seen. The agenda includes the following items:

• Fiscal officer to read minutes of previous special meeting
• Motion - Citizen request to rescind vote to join Paint Creek Fire District
• Motion - Citizen request to delay vote to set a date to begin contract with Paint Creek Fire District until July 13
• Time allowed for Public Comment
• Request from fiscal officer to amend fire fund certificate
• Motion to enter into executive session
• Time allowed for additional public comment
• Any further business before township
• Dismissal

The regular meeting of the Hillsboro City Council will be held July 9 at 7 p.m. in the Hillsboro Municipal Courtroom in the Highland County Justice Center.