Liberty Township schedules special meeting on fire/EMS

The Liberty Township Trustees have scheduled a special meeting for Friday to "discuss strategy pertaining to fire and EMS." 

Liberty Township Trustee Jerry Williams told The Highland County Press last week that he had met with Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District board member Bill Redenbaugh at their fire station in Greenfield regarding "fact finding." 

On Thursday, township legal counsel Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said that the townships have been exploring all available options when it comes to finding a resolution for the services. 

"The townships have expressed interest in joining Paint Creek, and Paint Creek has expressed interest in the townships joining. Negotiations are ongoing," Collins said, although she specified that no decision has been made. 

Liberty Township, along with New Market, Jackson and Washington townships, have been in negotiations for months with the city of Hillsboro regarding the emergency services. They have also explored other options for the services, which included forming a fire district with the city, forming a fire district without the city or joining an existing fire district. 

"It looks like it's coming down to two things: either contracting or joining with Paint Creek," Williams said last week. "The problem with going out on our own (district) is the money issue. We'd have to have a lot larger levy."

Williams said Thursday that he anticipates there will be an executive session during Friday's meeting, which will be held at the township building located at 95 Moore Road in Hillsboro. 

Last week, Hastings presented a proposal to members of Hillsboro City Council for the city to "dissolve" Hillsboro Fire and Rescue and contract for EMS and fire services with the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District. If the city enters into a three-year contract with the district, Hastings said that the proposed agreement would save the city an estimated $1,540,000 "compared to continuing operation of the 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.

The Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District operates under a 5.5-mill levy. While the contract the city is considering essentially would pay the equivalent of that levy, Collins said that is an option that would be too expensive for most of the townships to pay outright.

"Obviously, the townships are not in that position financially, and a levy would have to be put on for the 5.5 mills. But they would become a member of the board (of trustees for the district) and have representation, if that is ultimately what they choose to do."

In order for a levy to be put on the November general election ballot, it has to be submitted to the Highland County Board of Elections in August. 

Washington Township Trustees have a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday evening at 7 p.m., and New Market Township Trustees have a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m.