UPDATED Hastings meets with Paint Creek fire district in special session
The Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District met in a special session Saturday morning at their headquarters in Greenfield to discuss potential expansion of the district.
Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings was in attendance during the meeting, and the board invited him to join them in executive session.
No decisions were made following the board's exit into regular session.
Hastings told The Highland County Press on Sunday that he is exploring all available options in seeking a resolution for EMS and fire coverage.
"In order to solve this whole fire issue, I am looking at every option available, and every combination available," Hastings said. "At the end of the day, I'm not going to leave any stone unturned for options that might have been viable."
Hastings declined to comment further regarding his meeting with the fire district board, saying that he would release information as it becomes more concrete. However, no decisions have been made.
On May 21, the finance committee of the Hillsboro City Council recommended 3-0 that the city reject a offer from Liberty, Jackson, New Market and Paint townships for a contract for three years, at $30 per person.
The finance committee had told Hastings and Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Rick Giroux to continue negotiating with the townships. Hastings said on Sunday that he has not submitted a counteroffer.
"I have not countered, but we haven't closed any doors," Hastings said. I think that I would say that we're still talking (with the townships). But I'm just exploring a lot of different ways to solve this problem. Until we have something really concrete or want to present to anybody, I'm not really at liberty to say (where they are in the negotiation process).
"I think people trust that I am going down the right path," Hastings said. "I really believe that. Sometimes if you read the newspapers you have a little different perception. I think it looks more alarming or concerning than it does in real life when you're just out on the street. I think we're in a quiet spell now because there's a lot of exploring of options."
[[In-content Ad]]Earlier this year, the city had said that they will no longer contract for fire services with the townships and that they will either have to join a district with the city or seek services elsewhere. Following a series of public meetings held by the townships and the city, city representatives had said they will consider additional options.
Township representatives have said that they will continue exploring all options, which includes contracting with the city, joining a district with the city, forming a district without the city or any other viable option that could be presented.
Negotiations between the city of Hillsboro and area townships regarding contacted services for Hillsboro Fire and Rescue have been ongoing since the beginning of the year and had been contention in previous years with the prior Hillsboro administration.
Earlier this year, Paint Township - which had previously contracted with Hillsboro for fire services - voted to joint the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District.
That district, which was formed in 2009 and began operating in January 2010, covers the village of Greenfield, Madison Township, Buckskin Township and Paint Township in Ross County, and now Paint Township in Highland County. It operates under a 5.5-mill levy.