Washington Township will wait on final EMS/fire decision

With more than a dozen residents in attendance, the Washington Township trustees said they will wait on making a final decision regarding EMS and fire services. 

Meeting at the township building off state Route 73 in Berrysville on Monday night, the trustees were asked about their options on the future of emergency services. 

The township currently receives the services from Hillsboro Fire and Rescue. However, the city of Hillsboro is considering disbanding the fire department and contracting with the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District. Washington, along with Liberty, Jackson and New Market townships, had considered forming a fire district, with or without the city. On Friday, Liberty Township voted 2-1 to join the Paint Creek fire district. They have not yet given written notice to the city of Hillsboro they will no longer be needing their services. 

During Liberty Township's special meeting on Friday, Hillsboro City Council member Pete Pence suggested the township wait in making a decision because the city would be in talks with their firefighters' union this week, with a potential contract offer to the townships forthcoming. 

Washington Township trustees said Monday that they have had no communications with the city of Hillsboro. 

"Everything has changed," Washington Township Trustee Larry Shannon said. 

Shannon said Washington Township had approximately $100,000 in reserve to use toward fire services, which meant that they could pay for fire services - either from the city, from Paint Creek, or another district - without putting a measure on the ballot. 

Because they have those funds in reserve and can last one year, the trustees said they do not have to have a levy on the November ballot, and therefore do not have an August deadline to make a decision. 

However, when a decision is made, all options will cost more money than the township residents are currently paying. 

The Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District has a 5.5-mill levy. 

The trustees were asked if they could contract with the Paint Creek district, or if they would be "forced" to join. Shannon said they had both options, and it was noted that if they join the district, they will have a vote on the board. If the township joins the district, the trustees were asked if they would be able to leave district in future years if they wanted to. The trustees said they were not certain. 

The Washington Township residents and trustees were critical of the Hillsboro administration, saying they had been difficult to work with, that they cannot get information when they request. 

"This has been going on for two and a half years," said trustee Jason McKee. 

Trustee Arthur Harless said, "It's hard to negotiate when it's only one side." 

Shannon said, "From day one, all we heard was how much money the townships were costing the city of Hillsboro. Well, that's not right. They were making money off of us. That's why it's all come to this. First two townships left, now three, and now they don't have any money." 

Tami Combs, a Washington Township resident and Shannon's daughter, said that she didn't want to place the blame on anyone, if the officials of Hillsboro thought they were doing what was right. However, she said that the townships deserve an answer. 

"We need to city to stand up, tell us the numbers and give us a price," Combs said. "Or, they need to call a meeting and just tell us yes or no."

Some residents asked if it were possible to negotiate through council and bypass the city administration. The trustees said they didn't know if that was possible. 

David Snider, Jr., a Hillsboro firefighter, told the township residents that "there is one other person who can negotiate on the city's behalf. That is the law director Fred Beery."

Harless said that there is talk that if the townships all join the Paint Creek district that they may get a fire station located closer to Washington Township. When he was asked if it was in writing, the trustees said nothing is official and nothing is in writing. 

"We may need to go back to trying to be better neighbors to each other," Harless said. "We may need to drive each other to the hospital. We used to do that. We may need to get back to that. It may end up being your neighbor that ends up saving your life. When things are smooth, you forget about how bad things can get. We may need to get together and protect each other." 

Combs said, "But I want to be able to call 911 if my child is choking." 

Snider said that if something could be worked out between the city and the townships, "Our firefighters union would rather spend our money and our time canvassing to help you pass a levy. We would rather spend our money on that than in a drawn-out legal battle with the city." 

The 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,  wouldn't be in this situation now.

"Things would have turned out different," McKee said. "They didn't have to build that Taj Mahal, and we wouldn't be in this situation." 

Harless said, "If Hillsboro hadn't started out trying to triple our rates, things would have been different. There wouldn't be these hard feelings." 

Washington Township resident Martha Palmer said the trustees and the city need to realize this isn't a situation about who wins. 

"This sounds like a divorce," Palmer said. "No one is going to win." 

Shannon said that the fire and EMS situation has been a drastic change from what the trustees normally do. 

"We were elected to fix roads and align fence disputes," Shannon said. "Now this is your life. We have everyone's lives in our hands." 

The trustees asked if the residents wanted them to act or if they wanted them to wait and see if more information came out. 

One township resident said that he moved the trustees wait to see what additional information and options would come forward, and another resident said he seconded that. There was a voice call for all in favor, with a chorus of "ayes" and not one voice opposition. The trustees said they would listen to that informal vote of the people and wait to see what the city and other townships do. 

New Market Township will have their regular monthly meeting Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the New Market Township building off U.S. 62.