New Market Township votes to join Paint Creek fire district

The New Market Township Trustees voted 2-1 Tuesday night to join the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District, despite several Hillsboro firefighters and neighboring township trustees asking them to hold their vote for two more weeks.

The resolution was read by fiscal officer Dick Barrera, and trustees Lowell Sullivan and Kenny Harless voted to join the district, effective Oct. 1. Trustee Tom Juillerat voted against joining, saying that he would be willing to wait to see if Hillsboro had an offer that could potentially save the township residents money.

There were more than 15 people in attendance at the meeting, which included New Market Township residents, current and former Hillsboro firefighters, and trustees from neighboring townships. Discussions lasted for more than an hour.

Hillsboro Firefighter David Snider Jr. said that he was there to "beg" the trustees to wait on voting on the matter, because he had been told that the Hillsboro City Council was working on an offer. Additionally, he said that Hillsboro Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2972 has come up with a concession package that would cut $100,000 from their salaries and benefits if the city makes a deal with the townships, and maintains the fire department.

Harless asked why those concessions were not offered three months ago. Snider said the firefighters were only now allowed to take an active role in the process, and the administration had previously barred them from participating.

Sullivan and Harless each said that they were done working with the city of Hillsboro.

"If we wait two weeks, the most city council will offer us is a contract," Harless said. "We don't want a contract with the city of Hillsboro. We're done with the city of Hillsboro."

"Our only option, as I see it, is joining Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District," Sullivan said.

The trustees said that they put forth an offer to the city in May, and that they have heard nothing in return.  

"(Council's finance committee) met for a minute and a half on it," Sullivan said. "That's how much they thought of us." 

 "We can't negotiate with ourselves," Harless said. "We haven't heard anything from them in six weeks." 

Washington Township Trustee Arthur Harless said that he didn't see why New Market could not delay their vote, as Washington Township Trustees did on Monday.

Arthur Harless said that Hillsboro council was now taking a more active role in the issue, and that the townships may not have to negotiate with Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings. A new plan may be offered by the city at 3.2 mills. Ken Harless said that no full-time fire department in the state of Ohio operates on 3.2 mills.

Sullivan said that he had been told that Hillsboro City Council President Lee Koogler had said the city would not contract for less than $85 per person, while Hastings had said they would not contract for less than $100 per person.

The fire district operates under a 5.5-mill levy. The trustees said that according to Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley, that levy had been rolled back to 5.2 mills. That levy is approximately $79-80 per person, according to the trustees.

New Market Township currently has two 1-mill levies, for a 2-mill total. Those levies have been rolled back to 1.6 mills.

Juillerat said that he was figuring on his own taxes, and on property valued at $126,000, at 1.6 mills, he pays $64 per year, but he estimated that at 5.5 mills he would psy $225 per year.

"The way I see it, people can't afford that. Nobody has got that much extra income," Juillerat said.

Sullivan said that if the city keeps stalling the townships, they won't be able to put any issues on their ballot, and one of their levies is getting ready to roll off. 

By the trustees voting to join the district, the matter will not go to the voters, and the 5.5 mills will automatically be in effect.

In order for New Market Township to officially join the fire district, the district board of trustees must vote to allow them in. The Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District is scheduled to hold a regular meeting at 7 p.m. July 10 at their fire station on North Washington Street in Greenfield.

Sullivan and Ken Harless said it was their understanding that if the city of Hillsboro contracts with the fire district, Paint Creek will operate a substation out of the current Hillsboro fire station. If the city does not contract with them, the fire district will look to locating a substation closer to the New Market area.

The Hillsboro firefighters said that currently the closest station Paint Creek has to New Market is in Rainsboro, where their substation, "is a camper and a pole barn."

Snider, Hillsboro firefighter Marc Bayless, and former part-time Hillsboro firefighter Josh Wilmouth questioned the trustees on how much they knew about Paint Creek's personnel, operations and coverage.

"They can't cover what they've said they can cover," Bayless said.

Ken Harless said, "Hillsboro isn't covering what they said they could cover, either," because of the city's May layoff of 26 part-time and volunteer firefighters. 

Eventually, the trustees said they did not want to argue with the firefighters, saying that their issues have never been with the firefighters or their service.

Snider said that proposed the $100,000 in cuts were approximately $8,400 per person on the 12-person Hillsboro Fire and Rescue. Snider said he also took a "significant" pay cut in 2010.

Ken Harless said, "With that $8,400 cut, how much more will that be above at Paint Creek (firefighter wages)? Will you still be making more?"

The firefighters said they would still make more, but that their salaries would be closer.

Wilmouth said that Hillsboro would only make more until the Paint Creek firefighters renegotiated their contract.

"Get a real (perspective), guys. This is the economy we're in," Sullivan said.

A few township residents voiced that they had not received raises and had taken pay cuts, and struggled in this economy.

Ken Harless and Sullivan said that if the city of Hillsboro wanted to make a deal or extend an offer they would have done so already, or sent someone to the meeting.

"Is somebody here from the city?" Harless asked. "Step forward." 

No official city repesentative was in attendance.

Snider and Wilmouth said council would have a proposal in the next two weeks.

Sullivan asked what happens if they wait two weeks, get no offer from the city, "and then Paint Creek won't take us? What do we do then?"

"Paint Creek will take you," Wilmouth said. "They want to expand their district."

Sullivan said, "So you're speaking for council and the district now? ... It's done. It's done. Get it through your heads, it's done."

Some residents voiced that the decision was not yet made and they could wait, while others voiced they did not want to go with the city.

Ken Harless said that when the townships held a public forum in May to ask residents what they wanted to do regarding EMS and fire services, the clear majority said they did not want to go with the city. It was noted that vote was unofficial, and that it was not a majority of township voters.

"They wanted stability," Sullivan said. 

Sullivan and Harless said that if it's the wrong decision, the voters will let them know it when they're up for re-election. However, they felt they were acting in accordance with the wishes of the people.