Washington Township to join Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District
The Highland County Press
By a 2-1 vote, the Washington Township trustees have decided to join with Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District for its fire and EMS coverage.
Trustees Jason McKee and Larry Shannon voted in favor of the proposal, while trustee Arthur Harless voted against it.
The township had received its fire and EMS services from Hillsboro Fire and Rescue.
With Washington Township's decision this week, that leaves Jackson Township as the only township still under contract with the city of Hillsboro.
At a meeting earlier this year, residents of Jackson Township expressed a preference to join the Southern Highland Joint Fire District, which is based in Mowrystown, but has added a substation in Sugar Tree Ridge.
Harless thanked the Hillsboro Fire Department for their years of service to Washington Township and he thanked Hillsboro City Council for trying to work out a new contract.
[[In-content Ad]]In July, Washington Township trustees thanked the Hillsboro firefighters, saying that they have never had an issue with their services and that they have always done a good job.
"I've seen them in action a lot," McKee said. "They have always done a great job."
"And we like (the Paint Creek district) too," Harless said.
McKee said that if the city had engaged in actual negotiations with the townships, they could have had it resolved a long time ago.