Liberty, New Market townships officially join Paint Creek fire district

The board of trustees of the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District unanimously voted Tuesday night to allow Liberty and New Market townships to join the district, effective Oct. 1.

The board met for their regular meeting Tuesday night at the district's station in Greenfield.

Board member William Redenbaugh, said the district had two resolutions before them, one from New Market and one from Liberty township, requesting to join the district. Redenbaugh made a motion to accept the townships into the district.

Board member Steve Karnes asked if they could go into executive session to discuss district expansion. Redenbaugh's motion died for lack of a second, and the board voted 5-0 to go into executive session, for the stated purpose of district expansion.

New Market Township Trustee Lowell Sullivan and Liberty Township Trustee Steve Lerch were both in attendance, and were asked in to the executive session.

After just over an hour in executive session, the board voted to enter back into regular session.

Karnes then clarified that during the session the board discussed expansion with Sullivan and Lerch, and that the two were later asked to leave so the board could discuss a potential property purchase in Paint Township.

Redenbaugh then made another motion to allow Liberty and Paint Townships to join the district, effective Oct. 1, and the resolution was passed 5-0.

The townships must give the city of Hillsboro, which currently provides them with EMS and fire coverage, a notice of 60 days to terminate services.

"That will give us time to make a clean break with Hillsboro," Lerch said.

The trustees of Liberty and Paint Township will each appoint a representative to serve on the board.

In addition to Liberty and New Market townships, the district serves the village of Greenfield, Madison Township, Paint Township in Highland County, Paint Township in Ross County, and Buckskin Township in Ross County.

As the board was signing the resolutions, Karnes asked why Liberty's resolution did not have the signature of trustee John "Jake" McLaughlin.

"Why isn't Jake's name on here as a 'no' vote?" Karnes asked.

Liberty voted 2-1 on July 6 to joint the Paint Creek district, with Lerch and trustee Jerry Williams voting in favor, and McLaughlin voting against it.

"Jake got mad and refused to sign it and left," Lerch said.

When it comes to providing services to the two new townships, Karnes said that a second, temporary substation may be necessary in the new service area, but that the details are being worked out.

The district currently has a temporary substation in Paint Township. Paint joined the district in April.

District Chief Bradley George said that the district will move forward with plans to build a substation in Paint Township, and between now and Oct. 1 will look at potential additional options.

"At this point in time, there are no promises for a substation," George said. "But common sense says that one is needed in the Liberty area. I have several months to plan this out."

George said that additional staff will "most likely" be hired, included some full-time and part-time positions, as well as volunteers.

"I feel that there is a group of volunteers that are not being utilized, who I will be looking at when it comes to staffing a substation," George said.

Prior to the vote on the resolution, the board heard from community members.

Former district firefighter Aaron McCune, a Greenfield resident, addressed the board prior to their vote on the townships, asking questions regarding potential services and a proposed contract with the city of Hillsboro.

McCune asked where the figure that the city of Hillsboro has proposed to pay for services came from. According to a proposed resolution for contracting the services heard by the Hillsboro City Council Monday evening, the city would pay approximately $600,000 a year for services, for three years, with options to add years or later join the district.

Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings has said that the agreement would save the city an estimated $1,540,000, "compared to continuing operation of the Hillsboro fire department with an estimated $899,648 deficit and a capital costs/benefits/administration (CBA) deficit of $450,000," for a total deficit of $1,348,648.
Board president Dan Mathews said he had "no idea" how Hillsboro came up with that number, and that there is currently no contract with the city.

McCune asked why Hillsboro was being considered for a contract when other entities had been denied a contracting opportunity, and said that Perry Township in Fayette County was an example.

Redenbaugh said that ultimately they would prefer entities to join the district rather than contract, "but in some cases that's just not feasible," and it can depend on the situation. Redenbaugh said it is to the township or municipality's benefit to join because "then they have a voice and a vote" on the board.

The board was asked if they would hire the 12 firefighters that are currently on staff at Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, if the city contracts with the district. Redenbaugh said that McCune was a Greenfield firefighter when the district was formed in 2009, and asked, "Were you not given first consideration?"

"I was told that I was," McCune said.

Redenbaugh said, "Then why would they not be given the same? We are an equal opportunity employer."

When asked if the district had 12 full-time positions open, the board said they did not know. The board was then asked if New Market and Liberty townships were promised substations in their areas.

The board asked Lerch and Sullivan if they had promised them a substation. Both trustees said they were not promised a substation.

The board was asked if they were considering substations in Buckskin or Paint township in Ross County, and the board said it was not.

"How does it benefit the district to expand?" McCune asked.

Redenbaugh said that expansion brings in more money to the district, which allows them the opportunity for more training and equipment, which "would happen anyway, but maybe just not as fast" if the district were smaller.

Hillsboro resident Richard Stiffler said that under the contract that the city is proposing, the fire district would utilize Hillsboro fire equipment.

"That equipment was bought with Hillsboro taxpayers' dollars," Stiffler said. "How is that fair that you get to use it, and build up your district by putting miles on our trucks? How is that fair?"

The board began to move on to new business, but Stiffler said that he wanted an answer to his question.

"Can I get an answer?" Stiffler said. "Why do you get to use our equipment to build up your district?"

Redenbaugh said, "Because it was offered.

Stiffler said that the district's trucks were older than Hillsboro's, and that Hillsboro's newer equipment would be used to benefit the citizens of Greenfield, "and in three years we'll be left with nothing."

Mathews said that equipment has to be used or else it will deteriorate more quickly, but that if Hillsboro contracts with the district, Hillsboro's equipment will be used to serve Hillsboro residents.

The board reiterated that there is no agreement or contract between the district and the city. 

Stiffler said he still felt the district was using Hillsboro equipment to build their district.

Mathews asked what Stiffler proposed should happen to the equipment, because if it sits unused, it will deteriorate.

"Use some common sense," Mathews said. "You could scrap it."

Stiffler said, "We're not going to scrap it. We could use it or sell it off."

Stiffler said that when he previously attended a June 26 meeting of the district board, they told him "a bold faced lie" when they said they were not in contract talks with the city of Hillsboro. However - as previously reported in The Highland County Press - the board met with Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings in May in executive session to discuss potential expansion of the district.

Mathews said they did not lie, and that all talks with the city have been "informational."

The board's next meeting will be July 18 at 7 p.m.