Holt: Fire equipment cannot leave city limits if township contract is not in place by year's end WATCH THE VIDEO
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Hillsboro City Council may need to hold a special session in order to further discuss fire contracts with area townships, after negotiations have stalled over what the townships will pay for the services in 2012. If a contract is not finalized by Dec. 31, according to the Hillsboro Safety and Service Director, per city ordinance, crews and vehicles will not be permitted outside the city limits.
"I mentioned the fire and EMS contracts to council at the September meeting," Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt reported to council Tuesday during their October meeting. "It is my understanding (Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins) wants to wait until the new administration takes office to negotiate these contracts. The current agreement that is in place ends Dec. 31, 2011."
Holt said that unless there is a contract, Hillsboro Fire and Rescue will not be allowed outside the city on calls.
"According to Ordinance 32.12, out-of-town calls, 'none of the firefighting equipment of the fire department shall leave the limits of the city, except when the fire department is acting under the authority of a contract existing between the city, and another subdivision, as provided by law,'" Holt said.
Holt reported to council in September that there has been no progress in the negotiations for fire contracts with the six area townships for fire and EMS coverage. In June the city had sent a letter to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, legal counsel for the townships, that they would charge $40 per person in each of the townships for a combination of fire and EMS. The townships, according to Holt, submitted a counter offer of $22. Holt told council that the city countered with an offer of $35, and that told that, "I have received no correspondence from Mrs. Collins or any of the townships."
In June, Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis had told council's finance committee that the current cost of services per person per year is $17.81. Lewis said that $9.06 would be needed to cover the costs of the equipment, which brings the total to $26.87, which he rounded up to $27 per township resident. It would bring in an additional $113,000 per year. That would be combined with the current "soft billing" that the city does on EMS runs. Looking at the current financials of the townships, Lewis said that Hamer, Liberty, Paint, New Market and Washington townships would not have to put on a new levy for at least five years. Jackson Township might have to put on one within two years.
"We should be sending out contracts to townships in October so they can approve them or disapprove them in November," Holt said Tuesday. "We really need to hold a committee meeting, and also a special council meeting to provide the townships with these contracts for them to be considered before Dec. 31, 2011."
Holt told The Highland County Press that it will be up to council on what step to take next, since the negotiations have not produced a contract.
When asked what would happen if there was an emergency call from one of the townships on Jan. 1, 2012, Holt said, "That is why I'm concerned. Council is going to have to make the decision on what happens. We have to know before Dec. 31 whether we are going to cover the costs or not."
Collins told The Highland County Press Tuesday that the townships want to reach an agreement, but it has to be a reasonable agreement.
"I want to negotiate with the city on behalf of the townships, but (Holt's) offer of $35 per person is just not reasonable, and I can't in good faith make that negotiation," Collins said.
When asked how the townships plan on proceeding, Collins said that by the end of the year, "I hope to have a plan in place."
Lee Koogler, president of the Hillsboro City Council, put the matter into the finance and street and safety committees for review. Holt asked when he could anticipate a committee meeting. Koogler said that he would discuss the matter with finance committee chairperson Peter Pence, who was absent Tuesday, within the next few days.
The Hillsboro City Council may need to hold a special session in order to further discuss fire contracts with area townships, after negotiations have stalled over what the townships will pay for the services in 2012. If a contract is not finalized by Dec. 31, according to the Hillsboro Safety and Service Director, per city ordinance, crews and vehicles will not be permitted outside the city limits.
"I mentioned the fire and EMS contracts to council at the September meeting," Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt reported to council Tuesday during their October meeting. "It is my understanding (Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins) wants to wait until the new administration takes office to negotiate these contracts. The current agreement that is in place ends Dec. 31, 2011."
Holt said that unless there is a contract, Hillsboro Fire and Rescue will not be allowed outside the city on calls.
"According to Ordinance 32.12, out-of-town calls, 'none of the firefighting equipment of the fire department shall leave the limits of the city, except when the fire department is acting under the authority of a contract existing between the city, and another subdivision, as provided by law,'" Holt said.
Holt reported to council in September that there has been no progress in the negotiations for fire contracts with the six area townships for fire and EMS coverage. In June the city had sent a letter to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, legal counsel for the townships, that they would charge $40 per person in each of the townships for a combination of fire and EMS. The townships, according to Holt, submitted a counter offer of $22. Holt told council that the city countered with an offer of $35, and that told that, "I have received no correspondence from Mrs. Collins or any of the townships."
In June, Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis had told council's finance committee that the current cost of services per person per year is $17.81. Lewis said that $9.06 would be needed to cover the costs of the equipment, which brings the total to $26.87, which he rounded up to $27 per township resident. It would bring in an additional $113,000 per year. That would be combined with the current "soft billing" that the city does on EMS runs. Looking at the current financials of the townships, Lewis said that Hamer, Liberty, Paint, New Market and Washington townships would not have to put on a new levy for at least five years. Jackson Township might have to put on one within two years.
"We should be sending out contracts to townships in October so they can approve them or disapprove them in November," Holt said Tuesday. "We really need to hold a committee meeting, and also a special council meeting to provide the townships with these contracts for them to be considered before Dec. 31, 2011."
Holt told The Highland County Press that it will be up to council on what step to take next, since the negotiations have not produced a contract.
When asked what would happen if there was an emergency call from one of the townships on Jan. 1, 2012, Holt said, "That is why I'm concerned. Council is going to have to make the decision on what happens. We have to know before Dec. 31 whether we are going to cover the costs or not."
Collins told The Highland County Press Tuesday that the townships want to reach an agreement, but it has to be a reasonable agreement.
"I want to negotiate with the city on behalf of the townships, but (Holt's) offer of $35 per person is just not reasonable, and I can't in good faith make that negotiation," Collins said.
When asked how the townships plan on proceeding, Collins said that by the end of the year, "I hope to have a plan in place."
Lee Koogler, president of the Hillsboro City Council, put the matter into the finance and street and safety committees for review. Holt asked when he could anticipate a committee meeting. Koogler said that he would discuss the matter with finance committee chairperson Peter Pence, who was absent Tuesday, within the next few days.
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