Hamer gives city notice to terminate fire contract

The legal counsel for the Hamer Township Board of Trustees has submitted a letter of intent to the city of Hillsboro giving notice that they will be terminating their contract for EMS and fire services, stating they want "stability the city cannot offer." 

Hamer is one of five townships that contracted with the city in 2012 for the EMS and fire protection services, including Liberty, New Market, Jackson and Washington townships. 

Township legal counsel, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins submitted a letter to the city Friday stating that, "Please be advised that Hamer Township is giving the required 60-day notice to terminate the contract entered into with the city of Hillsboro for fire and EMS service on March 31, 2012."

Hamer Township held a public forum Thursday evening to gauge opinions of township residents regarding the future of their protection services. In an unofficial show-of-hands vote, the township residents said they wanted to join the Lynchburg Area Joint Fire and Ambulance District. 

Collins said Thursday evening that any of the townships, or the city, could terminate the contract if they gave a 60-day notice. 

In the letter Friday, she wrote, "Pursuant to the terms of the contract, Hamer Township will pay the agreed-upon amount of the contract that is due on June 30, 2012. Effectively July 4, 2012 at 12:01 a.m., Hamer Township will no longer require the services of the Hillsboro City Fire Department. The township has no complaint regarding the services rendered by the firefighters and EMTs employed by the city of Hillsboro; however, the township residents have made it apparent they want stability, which the city of Hillsboro cannot offer. We thank you for your services in previous years and wish that negotiations could have come to fruition; however, at this time, we feel that it is in the best interests of township residents to discontinue service with the city of Hillsboro." 

As previously reported in the Highland County Press, the city of Hillsboro has stated that as of 2013, they will no longer contract with the townships for the services. The townships will either have to join a proposed new fire district with the city, or seek the services elsewhere. 

"I will tell you that the other townships are working hard at forming a district and checking into things," Collins said. "They are working actively to form a fire district without the city of Hillsboro."

On Thursday, Hamer Township trustees Nathan Mootz, Jon Holbrook and  Tom Leininger, after discussing the contracts and services with the township residents, they expressed their intent to go with the Lynchburg area district. However, they did not vote on the matter. They will consider an official resolution to join the district during their regular monthly meeting on May 7. 

The fire district will then have to consider a resolution in order to allow Hamer into their district during their May 8 meeting. 

Lynchburg area fire district board member Joe Fraysier said Thursday that he had spoken with nearly all the other board members, and they were in favor of allow Hamer to join. 

The Highland County Press asked Collins on Friday how the trustees were able to send notice to terminate their contract with the city when they haven't officially voted on the matter. 

Collins said, "There is the intent that they are going to do that Monday. That is fully their intent based on the meeting (Thursday). The fire district meets Tuesday, and I believe it is their intent to accept Hamer into the district, based on statements made (Thursday) their board member."   

According to Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis, the 2012 EMS/fire contract with Hamer Township is for $14,960.

If the city provided the services until July 6, according to Lewis, "That's 188 days that they would be responsible to pay us for. They would owe us $7,705.42, and we would lose $7,254.58."

The following amounts are owed for 2012 by the remaining townships: Jackson - $24,068; Liberty - $80,014; New Market - $41,536; Washington -  $24,706.

Officials in Jackson, Liberty, New Market and Washington Townships have not yet decided on the course of action they are going to take regarding the EMS/fire services. 

Lewis said, "If all townships did the same thing at approximately the same time, the city would lose approximately $89,000 in revenue. While we wouldn't go into the "red," adjustments would have to be made in order to go into the future."

As of this week, according to Lewis, there is more than $300,000 in the city's general fund. 

Calls placed by the Highland County Press to the Hillsboro mayor, safety and service director and the president of the Hillsboro City Council were not immediately returned on Friday.