Townships vote on counteroffer to fire, EMS contracts
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A majority of area townships that contract with the city of Hillsboro for fire coverage have voted to accept a portion of the city's counter-offer for services.
The Hillsboro City Council voted Monday to ratify a tentative agreement that would increase the cost of coverage for the townships until 2012 by 18 percent over the 2009-2010 contract.
Additionally, "The city of Hillsboro will provide EMS services to those townships that we now provide fire contracts with until June 1, 2011. After that date the city will charge the townships for each run based on the formula provided below," according to the proposal. "This will allow the townships the opportunity to present this service to their constituents and place it on the ballot for the May (primary) election. If any or all of the townships choose not to put this on the ballot in May, or it is defeated at the polls, the city of Hillsboro will discontinue service of EMS to those townships."
Leadership from those townships - Hamer, Liberty, Jackson, Paint, Penn, New Market and Washington - met with their legal counsel, Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey, on Nov. 4 to discuss the contract.
Liberty Township fiscal officer Jolene Walker said that Grandey recommended the townships accept the 18-percent increase. However, they discussed asking the city to extend EMS services through December 2011 instead of to June 2011.
The negotiations have been an ongoing issue since council voted in April to allow Holt to negotiate increases to the contracts. The townships have said those increases in the fire contracts were between 42 percent and 76.34 percent. The townships have subsequently countered with offers of a 10-percent increase, and a 12-percent increase for 2011 services, with the options of negotiating the contracts for 2012.
Hamer Township has a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the matter. Representatives from Liberty, Jackson, Washington, Paint, Penn and New Market said they have voted to submit Grandey's suggested proposal to the city. They met either in special sessions, or they had regularly scheduled meetings this week.
"We passed a resolution to go along with the proposal he's making, the 18-percent increase on fire and to continue EMS runs through 2011. We don't have any funds to pay EMS separate from fire funds," Jackson Township Trustee Carey Michael said.
Once all townships have responded back with their decisions, Grandey's office will officially respond to the proposal. According to Grandey's office on Tuesday afternoon, not all townships have responded.
"(Grandey) is sending a letter to the city regarding the fire contract," Walker said. "The letter will indicate we have no problem with the fire department, that we are pleased with their service, and to please express to the firefighters we are pleased with their service and that we look forward to a continued relationship."
Earlier this month, with the exception of Jackson, the affected townships met to gather information and examine their options. Discussion was held on whether or not they could join other fire districts or form their own district.
The Ohio Revised Code Section 505.37 states that townships may provide, but are not required to provide, fire services.
"I know a lot of comments have been made by citizens about our meeting," Walker said. "This was just to get our options together and try to see what we need to do. We weren't trying to be underhanded or hide anything. None of the meetings were secret. There were things we needed to discuss and just to talk it out. Then we had our regular meetings."
Walker said that the townships will ask that the city respond no later than Nov. 26.
"As (Grandey previously told the city) it is unlawful to use funds from fire levies for EMS services," Walker said. "To bill us is not acceptable because the townships do not have sufficient funds in their general funds and cannot use fire levy funds. We have also been advised that there will be no primary in 2011, and due to the high costs of special elections, the townships won't be able to put (an EMS levy) on the ballot until November."
Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard said that they continue to consider their options.
"From here on out, we need to start shopping and putting something else together, because we can't support Hillsboro," Mustard said.
A majority of area townships that contract with the city of Hillsboro for fire coverage have voted to accept a portion of the city's counter-offer for services.
The Hillsboro City Council voted Monday to ratify a tentative agreement that would increase the cost of coverage for the townships until 2012 by 18 percent over the 2009-2010 contract.
Additionally, "The city of Hillsboro will provide EMS services to those townships that we now provide fire contracts with until June 1, 2011. After that date the city will charge the townships for each run based on the formula provided below," according to the proposal. "This will allow the townships the opportunity to present this service to their constituents and place it on the ballot for the May (primary) election. If any or all of the townships choose not to put this on the ballot in May, or it is defeated at the polls, the city of Hillsboro will discontinue service of EMS to those townships."
Leadership from those townships - Hamer, Liberty, Jackson, Paint, Penn, New Market and Washington - met with their legal counsel, Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey, on Nov. 4 to discuss the contract.
Liberty Township fiscal officer Jolene Walker said that Grandey recommended the townships accept the 18-percent increase. However, they discussed asking the city to extend EMS services through December 2011 instead of to June 2011.
The negotiations have been an ongoing issue since council voted in April to allow Holt to negotiate increases to the contracts. The townships have said those increases in the fire contracts were between 42 percent and 76.34 percent. The townships have subsequently countered with offers of a 10-percent increase, and a 12-percent increase for 2011 services, with the options of negotiating the contracts for 2012.
Hamer Township has a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the matter. Representatives from Liberty, Jackson, Washington, Paint, Penn and New Market said they have voted to submit Grandey's suggested proposal to the city. They met either in special sessions, or they had regularly scheduled meetings this week.
"We passed a resolution to go along with the proposal he's making, the 18-percent increase on fire and to continue EMS runs through 2011. We don't have any funds to pay EMS separate from fire funds," Jackson Township Trustee Carey Michael said.
Once all townships have responded back with their decisions, Grandey's office will officially respond to the proposal. According to Grandey's office on Tuesday afternoon, not all townships have responded.
"(Grandey) is sending a letter to the city regarding the fire contract," Walker said. "The letter will indicate we have no problem with the fire department, that we are pleased with their service, and to please express to the firefighters we are pleased with their service and that we look forward to a continued relationship."
Earlier this month, with the exception of Jackson, the affected townships met to gather information and examine their options. Discussion was held on whether or not they could join other fire districts or form their own district.
The Ohio Revised Code Section 505.37 states that townships may provide, but are not required to provide, fire services.
"I know a lot of comments have been made by citizens about our meeting," Walker said. "This was just to get our options together and try to see what we need to do. We weren't trying to be underhanded or hide anything. None of the meetings were secret. There were things we needed to discuss and just to talk it out. Then we had our regular meetings."
Walker said that the townships will ask that the city respond no later than Nov. 26.
"As (Grandey previously told the city) it is unlawful to use funds from fire levies for EMS services," Walker said. "To bill us is not acceptable because the townships do not have sufficient funds in their general funds and cannot use fire levy funds. We have also been advised that there will be no primary in 2011, and due to the high costs of special elections, the townships won't be able to put (an EMS levy) on the ballot until November."
Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard said that they continue to consider their options.
"From here on out, we need to start shopping and putting something else together, because we can't support Hillsboro," Mustard said.
[[In-content Ad]]