Paint Township residents show support in joining Paint Creek EMS/Fire District WATCH THE VIDEO
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
With a show of hands in an informal vote, residents of Paint Township gave support to their township trustees in a decision to join the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District.
The Paint Township Trustees held an open meeting Thursday evening at the AmVets, off North Shore Drive to gauge public opinion on joining the fire district.
Trustees Randy Mustard, Steve Karnes and Jeff White opened the meeting by saying that they were in no way dissatisfied with the services that have been provided by Hillsboro Fire and Rescue."
"This is nothing against you guys," Karnes said, speaking directly to several Hillsboro firefighters who were in attendance. The firefighters said that they understood.
"It's the administration," Mustard said, with Karnes and White voicing agreement.
Joined by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, legal counsel to the townships, they explained the history and process of the ongoing negotiations with the city of Hillsboro and the six townships that contract for EMS and fire services. [See sidebar for explanation of negotiation history.]
It was explained that the city of Hillsboro has said that as of 2013, the townships that contract with them for fire services - Hamer, Jackson, Liberty, New Market, Paint and Washington townships - will either be a part of a fire district the city has proposed forming, or they will have to go elsewhere for services.
The trustees then opened the floor to discussion by the more than 50 residents who were in attendance.
The first question asked was how the fire and EMS response times would be impacted by switching to the Paint Creek district, which has its main station located in Greenfield.
Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District Chief Bradley George said that their response times would be approximately 12-15 minutes, depending on where the emergency is, which is comparable with Hillsboro's current response time.
George - saying that he was speaking with the support of the board of trustees of the fire district - said they would begin working on getting a sub-station to the Rocky Fork Lake area as soon as Paint Township joined the district.
Dan Mathews, president of the fire district board of trustees, nodded in agreement with George as he talked about building potential and equipment.
Karnes said that should Paint Township go with the fire district Hillsboro has proposed, it is unlikely there would be a sub-station in the lake area, as the district would encompass more township in the southern portion of the county.
Paint Township residents currently pay a 2-mill levy for fire services. If they join the district, that levy will roll off, and they will have to pay the 5.5-mill levy the Paint Creek district has. If the trustees vote to go with that district, voters will not see a new levy on the ballot, but they would have to pay approximately 3.5 mills more on their taxes to equal what current residents of the district pay.
Paint Township resident Margie Brunner said, "In my opinion, I don't put a dollar amount on someone's life," and several residents voiced agreement. "We've needed a substation down here for years. We need something we can depend on. Not just this year, not just next year, but knowing that it's going to be there."
If a fire district is set up between Hillsboro and the six contracting townships, Karnes said, "We haven't got a true millage, but if everybody goes in, it's going to be in the 5-mill to 5.2-mill range. We're looking at a lot of unknowns about the establishment. There's a lot of legalities, paperwork, whether it will pass in all six townships. In our discussion, the trustees have to look at this, for the same amount of money, do we want to go through the setup, rehiring firefighters and this kind of stuff, or do we want to go with an established, operating group?"
Karnes said that Paint Township had discussed joining the Paint Creek district when it was forming in 2008, but opted out because they were able to contract with Hillsboro at a cheaper cost.
"But the contract days (as of) Jan. 1 are not going to be possible in Highland County," Karnes said. "It's roughly going to be 3.2 mills more than we're paying today, no matter what direction we go."
"I'd like something we can depend on at Rocky Fork Lake," Brunner said. "I don't want to have to go through a contract, and then have them tell us all the time what we have to have to have their service."
Collins, who is a resident of Paint Township, said that she shares the same concerns as the other residents present, in that she wants consistent emergency services for her family.
"For me, (joining the Paint Creek district) it will be something that is stable. And I am saying that as a resident of Paint Township. It's a stable decision," Collins said.
There are additional details that need to be worked out in a short period of time. For instance, there is no location that has been identified for a sub station, temporary or otherwise. Mustard also said that he will be contacting the Highland County Water Department to discuss lines and fire hydrants. There are concerns that because of the water system in the lake area, the only place to put a hydrant would be off of U.S. 50. George said that were it necessary, water could be used from Rocky Fork Lake.
It was emphasized that residents of Paint Township will not contract with the fire district. They will become members of the fire district, with board representation. When it comes to billing, fire district members are not "hard billed" for the services by collections agencies, but their insurance companies and health care providers such as Medicaid and Medicare will be "soft billed."
George said that all money the residents of the district pay will go to the fire and EMS district. Levy funds will not have to go through a municipality into the general funds, which is then budgeted to fire and EMS.
"We're not here to talk about service," George said. "With both (Hillsboro and Greenfield area) departments, we're equal. We have red trucks. We fight fires. When you're sick, we take you to the hospital. How each department operates might be a little bit different, but we all do the same thing. The only reason I am here and can make this offer (with the support of the board of trustees) is because we are a private entity. The only people who control us (are the board members) and we serve you the public. All the money that we have that comes available, it comes in to our fire district, and it's there for us. When I was with the city, we had our budget and that was it. Whether we needed more or needed less. We had to spend all of it, or else they were going to keep cutting. Now, as a district, I don't have to worry about that. They're not going to hide money, they're not going to put it in another fund, or transfer it later. With this, it's easy. It's you guys, through the board, it's all our money, and it just stays there and it keeps building."
Whichever district the township ends up going with, all township resources that are designated for fire and EMS, including reserve funds and any equipment, will be transferred to that district.
The trustees said that the reason they were trying to make the decision if they were going to join with Paint Creek prior to April 1 is so they could not enter into the proposed contract with Hillsboro. That way, all the resources they currently have will be able to go to the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District.
"That reserve will go a long way toward getting a sub station," Karnes said.
Mustard said that the city of Hillsboro pays $134,000 per year toward the new fire station, which, "They want us to take over if we start a fire district of our own. For 18 years. They still owe $1.86 million on it. They've got a bond on that building for $2.9 million, and it's finance for $2.6 million. And they want us to accumulate their debt and run with it. I'm here to say, 'No, we're not.'"
An official vote by the Paint Township Board of Trustees on the resolution to joint the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District will be held Thursday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the AmVets.
If the trustees vote to join the district, the fire trustees will meet to consider a resolution to allow them to join. It is anticipated that everything will be completed by April 1.
The trustees asked George if he would be ready to accommodate all of Paint Township by April 1.
"We're been working at this a lot," George said. "If we've got a place to house it, and I can pull the third squad pretty quickly, we're working to put a squad down here if you say yes. Now we've just got to figure out where we're going to house it."
Mustard asked Mathews if the board could be pass a resolution by that date, and Mathews indicated they could.
"I'm just speaking for one, but if you need a building to put a squad in, I'll make room," Mustard said.
Karnes and White said Mustard spoke for them, as well.
George said they would need to figure out where the firefighter/EMTs would sleep, and some people joked that they had campers.
Jim Lyle, director of the Highland County Emergency Management Agency, which coordinates the 911 system with the Highland County Sheriff's Office dispatch and county emergency responders, said they will work to have the system ready for a changeover. Lyle said that it may take some time, though, to make sure the right stations are dispatched. He advised Paint Township residents to inform 911 operators where they were located and what district they are in, should they need emergency services.
Throughout the meeting that lasted nearly an hour and a half, residents asked questions, shared stories of their experiences in calling 911, and praised the efforts of the trustees and Collins.
"The reason that we wanted to have this meeting - and I'll talk for the other two," Karnes said, "is we had made a decision. We're pretty sure that our best deal is to join Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District. So I am going to need something, as your trustee, tonight that tells me that you don't want to be a part of Paint Creek Joint to change my mind. I'm here asking 'which way?' But I feel it's the best deal for us, unless the people have a real strong reason, or something comes up that we shouldn't. And I, personally, have not heard that yet tonight."
There were no comments from the residents that voiced a preference of joining a district with Hillsboro.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Karnes said they had to ask their constituents how they felt.
Mustard asked if there were any other questions. When there was no response he said, "Sounds like it's a done deal then."
Karnes said, "I hope there is not a soul in here that ever uses either one of the services that we're going about to pay for."
Mustard then asked if he could see a show of hands of people who wanted to go with the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District. A clear majority of people raised their hands, and Mustard said, "Well that's pretty easy to count."
With a show of hands in an informal vote, residents of Paint Township gave support to their township trustees in a decision to join the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District.
The Paint Township Trustees held an open meeting Thursday evening at the AmVets, off North Shore Drive, to gauge public opinion on joining the fire district.
Trustees Randy Mustard, Steve Karnes and Jeff White opened the meeting by saying that they were in no way dissatisfied with the services that have been provided by Hillsboro Fire and Rescue.
"This is nothing against you guys," Karnes said, speaking directly to several Hillsboro firefighters who were in attendance. The firefighters said that they understood.
"It's the administration," Mustard said, with Karnes and White voicing agreement.
Joined by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, legal counsel to the townships, they explained the history and process of the ongoing negotiations with the city of Hillsboro and the six townships that contract for EMS and fire services. [See sidebar for explanation of negotiation history.]
It was explained that the city of Hillsboro has said that as of 2013, the townships that contract with them for fire services - Hamer, Jackson, Liberty, New Market, Paint and Washington townships - will either be a part of a fire district the city has proposed forming, or they will have to go elsewhere for services.
The trustees then opened the floor to discussion by the more than 50 residents who were in attendance.
The first question asked was how the fire and EMS response times would be impacted by switching to the Paint Creek district, which has its main station located in Greenfield.
Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District Chief Bradley George said that their response times would be approximately 12-15 minutes, depending on where the emergency is, which is comparable with Hillsboro's current response time.
George - saying that he was speaking with the support of the board of trustees of the fire district - said they would begin working on getting a sub-station to the Rocky Fork Lake area as soon as Paint Township joined the district.
Dan Mathews, president of the fire district board of trustees, nodded in agreement with George as he talked about building potential and equipment.
Karnes said that should Paint Township go with the fire district Hillsboro has proposed, it is unlikely there would be a sub-station in the lake area, as the district would encompass more township in the southern portion of the county.
Paint Township residents currently pay a 2-mill levy for fire services. If they join the district, that levy will roll off, and they will have to pay the 5.5-mill levy the Paint Creek district has. If the trustees vote to go with that district, voters will not see a new levy on the ballot, but they would have to pay approximately 3.5 mills more on their taxes to equal what current residents of the district pay.
Paint Township resident Margie Brunner said, "In my opinion, I don't put a dollar amount on someone's life," and several residents voiced agreement. "We've needed a substation down here for years. We need something we can depend on. Not just this year, not just next year, but knowing that it's going to be there."
If a fire district is set up between Hillsboro and the six contracting townships, Karnes said, "We haven't got a true millage, but if everybody goes in, it's going to be in the 5-mill to 5.2-mill range. We're looking at a lot of unknowns about the establishment. There's a lot of legalities, paperwork, whether it will pass in all six townships. In our discussion, the trustees have to look at this, for the same amount of money, do we want to go through the setup, rehiring firefighters and this kind of stuff, or do we want to go with an established, operating group?"
Karnes said that Paint Township had discussed joining the Paint Creek district when it was forming in 2008 but opted out because they were able to contract with Hillsboro at a cheaper cost.
"But the contract days (as of) Jan. 1 are not going to be possible in Highland County," Karnes said. "It's roughly going to be 3.2 mills more than we're paying today, no matter what direction we go."
"I'd like something we can depend on at Rocky Fork Lake," Brunner said. "I don't want to have to go through a contract, and then have them tell us all the time what we have to have to have their service."
Collins, who is a resident of Paint Township, said that she shares the same concerns as the other residents present, in that she wants consistent emergency services for her family.
"For me, (joining the Paint Creek district) it will be something that is stable. And I am saying that as a resident of Paint Township. It's a stable decision," Collins said.
There are additional details that need to be worked out in a short period of time. For instance, there is no location that has been identified for a sub station, temporary or otherwise. Mustard also said that he will be contacting the Highland County Water Department to discuss lines and fire hydrants. There are concerns that because of the water system in the lake area, the only place to put a hydrant would be off of U.S. 50. George said that were it necessary, water could be used from Rocky Fork Lake.
It was emphasized that residents of Paint Township will not contract with the fire district. They will become members of the fire district, with board representation. When it comes to billing, fire district members are not "hard billed" for the services by collections agencies, but their insurance companies and health care providers such as Medicaid and Medicare will be "soft billed."
George said that all money the residents of the district pay will go to the fire and EMS district. Levy funds will not have to go through a municipality into the general funds, which is then budgeted to fire and EMS.
"We're not here to talk about service," George said. "With both (Hillsboro and Greenfield area) departments, we're equal. We have red trucks. We fight fires. When you're sick, we take you to the hospital. How each department operates might be a little bit different, but we all do the same thing. The only reason I am here and can make this offer (with the support of the board of trustees) is because we are a private entity. The only people who control us (are the board members) and we serve you the public. All the money that we have that comes available, it comes in to our fire district, and it's there for us. When I was with the city, we had our budget, and that was it. Whether we needed more or needed less. We had to spend all of it, or else they were going to keep cutting. Now, as a district, I don't have to worry about that. They're not going to hide money, they're not going to put it in another fund or transfer it later. With this, it's easy. It's you guys, through the board, it's all our money, and it just stays there and it keeps building."
Whichever district the township ends up going with, all township resources that are designated for fire and EMS, including reserve funds and any equipment, will be transferred to that district.
The trustees said that the reason they were trying to make the decision if they were going to join with Paint Creek prior to April 1 is so they could not enter into the proposed contract with Hillsboro. That way, all the resources they currently have will be able to go to the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District.
"That reserve will go a long way toward getting a sub station," Karnes said.
Mustard said that the city of Hillsboro pays $134,000 per year toward the new fire station, which, "They want us to take over if we start a fire district of our own. For 18 years. They still owe $1.86 million on it. They've got a bond on that building for $2.9 million, and it's finance for $2.6 million. And they want us to accumulate their debt and run with it. I'm here to say, 'No, we're not.'"
An official vote by the Paint Township Board of Trustees on the resolution to joint the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District will be held Thursday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the AmVets.
If the trustees vote to join the district, the fire trustees will meet to consider a resolution to allow them to join. It is anticipated that everything will be completed by April 1.
The trustees asked George if he would be ready to accommodate all of Paint Township by April 1.
"We're been working at this a lot," George said. "If we've got a place to house it, and I can pull the third squad pretty quickly, we're working to put a squad down here if you say yes. Now we've just got to figure out where we're going to house it."
Mustard asked Mathews if the board could pass a resolution by that date, and Mathews indicated they could.
"I'm just speaking for one, but if you need a building to put a squad in, I'll make room," Mustard said.
Karnes and White said Mustard spoke for them, as well.
George said they would need to figure out where the firefighter/EMTs would sleep, and some people joked that they had campers.
Jim Lyle, director of the Highland County Emergency Management Agency, which coordinates the 911 system with the Highland County Sheriff's Office dispatch and county emergency responders, said they will work to have the system ready for a changeover. Lyle said that it may take some time, though, to make sure the right stations are dispatched. He advised Paint Township residents to inform 911 operators where they were located and what district they are in, should they need emergency services.
Throughout the meeting that lasted nearly an hour and a half, residents asked questions, shared stories of their experiences in calling 911 and praised the efforts of the trustees and Collins.
"The reason that we wanted to have this meeting - and I'll talk for the other two," Karnes said, "is we had made a decision. We're pretty sure that our best deal is to join Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District. So I am going to need something, as your trustee, tonight that tells me that you don't want to be a part of Paint Creek Joint to change my mind. I'm here asking 'which way?' But I feel it's the best deal for us, unless the people have a real strong reason, or something comes up that we shouldn't. And I, personally, have not heard that yet tonight."
There were no comments from the residents that voiced a preference of joining a district with Hillsboro.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Karnes said they had to ask their constituents how they felt.
Mustard asked if there were any other questions. When there was no response he said, "Sounds like it's a done deal then."
Karnes said, "I hope there is not a soul in here that ever uses either one of the services that we're going about to pay for."
Mustard then asked if he could see a show of hands of people who wanted to go with the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District. A clear majority of people raised their hands, and Mustard said, "Well, that's pretty easy to count."