Washington Township trustees will not run special election
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Trustees from Washington Township say they do not intend to run a special election next year, as had been indicated last week during a special meeting held by the Hillsboro City Council.
Washington Township Trustee Jason McKee told the Highland County Press that he believed there was a miscommunication between the city administration and the trustees.
During the Nov. 23 meeting, during which the city discussed pending contracts for fire and EMS coverage with Hamer, Jackson, Liberty, New Market, Paint, Penn and Washington townships. Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink said that the city administration office contacted each of the seven townships, and that Washington Township leadership said they intend to run a special election in May for an EMS levy.
"So, that's one township that's taking action to move forward," Zink said.
Because there is no countywide primary election next year, according to the Highland County Board of Elections, the first time the townships can go to the voters for a levy will be in the November general election. Due to the cost, townships trustees have said they will not seek to run special elections.
City administrative assistant Kirby Ellison said that in the week prior to the special meeting the city had not been contacted by the townships, and she made calls to the area trustees asking their intent regarding the contracts.
"We had not received anything, and we were trying to work on the budget," Ellison told The Highland County Press on Monday.
The city later received a letter from the townships' legal counsel, Jim Grandey (See Nov. 23 council story and video).
"I asked a (Washington) townships trustee if they were signing the fire contracts and if they were putting EMS on the ballot in May, and he said 'Yes,'" Ellison said. "I think he probably didn't pay attention to what I was asking him. A few days later we received the letter from Mr. Grandey. I took that the letter would be the final say."
Zink took the previous statements by the trustee to be the intent of the township, she said.
McKee, who was not the trustee who spoke to Ellison, said that the trustees wanted residents of Washington Township to know that they will not run a special election.
[[In-content Ad]]Washington township trustees McKee and Arthur Harless said it is too early to tell if a EMS levy will have to go on the ballot in 2011. The township is still examining its options and has not determined yet if a levy will be needed.
"We are not having a special election in May," said both McKee and Harless.
Harless said that he has "heard no complaints" regarding the EMS coverage from Hillsboro.
"We'd like to continue our business with them as far as that goes," Harless said. "We'd like to stay with Hillsboro, if we can. We've always had EMS, it's just never been written the way they did this year. We will let the people decide on that, if we have to do it."