Paint Creek Fire and EMS considers adding Paint Township to district
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The board of trustees of the Paint Creek Joint Fire and EMS District has considered the addition of Paint Township to the district, according to a report to the Greenfield City Council.
William Redenbaugh, Greenfield City Council member and fire district trustee, told council members during their regular meeting Tuesday that the fire district met May 25 and after a short open session voted to go into executive session.
Legal counsel was invited into the executive session which Redenbaugh said was "quite lengthy. Paint Township has discussed joining the district."
Last week, he and another trustee attending Paint Township's monthly meeting.
"We are more than willing to work with them and provide them with coverage if they desire to join the district," Redenbaugh said.
Redenbaugh indicated that the final decision has not yet been made.
The next meeting of the fire district's board of trustees is June 14 at 7 p.m.
Paint Township currently receives fire and EMS coverage from Hillsboro Fire and Rescue. The township, along with Hamer, Jackson, Liberty, New Market, Penn and Washington townships, received notice from the city of Hillsboro in March that EMS coverage will be cancelled as of June 30 due the the financial hardship it has placed on the city, according to Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt.
As previously reported in The Highland County Press, the city previously had not included EMS charges in the fire contracts the townships pay for. In May 2010, when the city proposed new contracts to the townships, they included EMS charges. That initial contract proposal to the townships had increases in services between 42 percent and 76.34 percent for the individual townships. The Ohio Revised Code prohibits levy funds designated to pay for fire services to be used for EMS services. Most of the townships have indicated they will need to take the issue of a separate EMS levy to the voters.
The townships submitted a letter to the city, dated Nov. 16, saying they would agree to the 18-percent increase in 2011 for the fire contract only provided, however, that the city of Hillsboro continue to provide EMS services to the townships at no extra charge through, and including, Dec. 31, 2011. Council voted 5-2 to accept the contract, with council members Rod Daniels and Mary Brown Turner voting against it.
Holt sent the townships a letter dated March 17 stating that services would be cancelled as of June 30. Holt reported to the Hillsboro City Council during the May meeting that he has heard no response from the townships. The Highland County Sheriff's Office is legal counsel to the townships.
The board of trustees of the Paint Creek Joint Fire and EMS District has considered the addition of Paint Township to the district, according to a report to the Greenfield City Council.
William Redenbaugh, Greenfield City Council member and fire district trustee, told council members during their regular meeting Tuesday that the fire district met May 25 and after a short open session voted to go into executive session.
Legal counsel was invited into the executive session which Redenbaugh said was "quite lengthy. Paint Township has discussed joining the district."
Last week, he and another trustee attended Paint Township's monthly meeting.
"We are more than willing to work with them and provide them with coverage if they desire to join the district," Redenbaugh said.
Redenbaugh indicated that the final decision has not yet been made.
The next meeting of the fire district's board of trustees is June 14 at 7 p.m.
Paint Township currently receives fire and EMS coverage from Hillsboro Fire and Rescue. The township, along with Hamer, Jackson, Liberty, New Market, Penn and Washington townships, received notice from the city of Hillsboro in March that EMS coverage will be cancelled as of June 30 due to the financial hardship it has placed on the city, according to Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt.
As previously reported in The Highland County Press, the city previously had not included EMS charges in the fire contracts the townships pay for. In May 2010, when the city proposed new contracts to the townships, they included EMS charges. That initial contract proposal to the townships had increases in services between 42 percent and 76.34 percent for the individual townships. The Ohio Revised Code prohibits levy funds designated to pay for fire services to be used for EMS services. Most of the townships have indicated they will need to take the issue of a separate EMS levy to the voters.
The townships submitted a letter to the city, dated Nov. 16, saying they would agree to the 18-percent increase in 2011 for the fire contract only provided, however, that the city of Hillsboro continue to provide EMS services to the townships at no extra charge through, and including, Dec. 31, 2011. Council voted 5-2 to accept the contract, with council members Rod Daniels and Mary Brown Turner voting against it.
Holt sent the townships a letter dated March 17 stating that services would be cancelled as of June 30. Holt reported to the Hillsboro City Council during the May meeting that he has heard no response from the townships. The Highland County Prosecutor's Office is legal counsel to the townships.
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