Joint fire district explored

Bristol, Greene and Mecca discussing their options

Officials in Bristol, Greene and Mecca townships are exploring the idea of a joint fire district to serve the three rural communities.

Such a district would serve more than 8,000 residents.

Bristol fire Chief Steve Craiger said meetings have taken place with representatives of the three communities to discuss the idea.

"We have all come to the realization that each individual township cannot afford to provide the level of service that the people are accustomed to and deserve," Craiger said.

He said in other parts of Trumbull County and the state, advanced life support and ambulance services are readily available and firefighters are on duty at fire stations, who can respond immediately when there is a fire call.

"I feel that every citizen in our county deserves that same protection," Craiger said.

He said in Warren, there can be as many as 14 firefighters on duty who immediately can respond to a call, such as a recent apartment fire in the city.

Craiger said this is much more challenging for volunteer fire departments in Mecca, Greene and Bristol, which do have a duty crew of two on shift for 24 hours per day.

Craiger said there might be one or two volunteers at the stations during the day at Mecca and Greene, but it varies.

He said in 2022, Bristol responded to 800 calls, which means if someone is a volunteer firefighter, he or she would have to go the station two times per day to handle a call that might last one to three hours.

Bristol fire was established in 1946, Mecca in 1951 and Greene in 1977.

WHAT'S PROPOSED

Craiger said with a joint fire district, the three communities would work together and help each other in coverage for the three townships.

"We would form one department with residents in the three townships paying the same taxes based on what the millage is. This enables us to relocate equipment and personnel, spread the call volume out amongst three fire stations, and operate much more efficiently," Craiger said.

He said the first step would be for the three townships to agree to form a district, which would require action by each township's trustees.

The taxpayers would be asked to support a fire district at whatever level is required.

Current fire levies in the three communities would disappear and be replaced by a district fire levy, Craiger said.

If there's a fire or emergency medical service call in any of the three communities, the joint fire district staff would respond.

Bristol is the busiest fire department of the three, followed by Mecca and then Greene.

Craiger said the fire stations in the three communities would remain in use.

"We discussed having a staff in Bristol and also in Greene or Mecca at least during day turn, which would help with the calls," he said.

MONEY

Mecca fire Chief Tom Domes said the current fire tax levies are Bristol at 5.8 mills, Greene at 7.8 mills and Mecca at 4.4 mills.

Domes said other joint districts have sought levies, including the Eagle Joint Fire District in Hubbard, which covers Hubbard city and Hubbard township .

He said the Western Reserve Fire District, which serves Poland village and Poland township in Mahoning County, also decided to put a levy on the ballot. Officials said other local joint districts include Newton Falls and Newton Township in the Newton Joint Fire District, and Canfield city and township in the Cardinal Joint Fire District.

Mecca Trustee chairwoman Christen Clemson said grants and other funding can be sought to help a joint fire district.

She said joint fire districts seem to be able to get grants more easily than single departments.

Domes agreed it is getting much harder to get grants.

Clemson said Mecca EMS had 149 transports in 2020 with an average EMS billing of $30,000; in 2021, there were 177 transports with an average EMS billing of $36,000; and in 2022, there were 166 transports with an average EMS billing of $33,500.

He said Greene fire officials have talked about a new station, possibly at the former Maplewood Elementary School property on state Route 87, which "would be an ideal location."

Domes said all three have fire stations near the center of the townships.

He said Cortland has helped Mecca on calls, but might already be out in service when Mecca needs help.

"As smaller communities, we can help each other out working together," he said.

Domes said all three townships would have an ambulance available.

Clemson said a district also could help other neighboring communities as backups through contracts.

"Our populations are getting older because the younger population is moving away. To handle the fire and emergency calls for an aging population, forming a district makes sense," she said.

VOLUNTEERS HELP

Domes said the majority of local townships are covered by volunteers.

Current statistics list Bristol with one to five volunteers and 20 to 25 part time; Greene with 10 to 15 volunteers and Mecca, 10 to 20 volunteers.

Clemson said with a joint fire district, there can be a paid staff, which would be an incentive for people to stay locally.

She said many people leave for paid jobs elsewhere.

Domes said in Mecca, if a volunteer shows up for a fire call, they receive

$10 and for calls that include transport to the hospital, they are paid $15 per call.

Domes said with a joint fire district, he would like to see Mecca have a bunk room for the staff, restrooms and showers and a wellness center.

He said the state fire marshal's office has been pushing for regionalization and a meeting can be set up with officials on forming a joint district. Regionalization of fire departments is occurring in other parts of Ohio, he said.

Clemson said she wants to see the fire departments stay alive and the best way to do this is joining together.

"A joint fire district is the best way to keep the fire departments alive and functioning," she said.

Craiger said, "We have to do something. We are dying. We can't keep putting the burden on the taxpayers for just one community. I have been a proponent of joint fire districts for 20 years. The only thing that will help save fire service in this county is to join forces."

Craiger agreed it is difficult to get staff and to afford needed equipment, and that joint districts and multi-township fire departments have a better chance of securing funding.

By the numbers

Option 1

Bristol, Greene and Mecca townships with 24-hour crew at Bristol and 12-hour Monday to Friday crew at Mecca

• 6-mill levy -- owner of a $100,000 home would pay $210 per year; total revenue would be $789,550 with payroll at $652,000 and operational funds at $137,550.

• 7-mill levy -- owner of a $100,000 home would pay $245 per year; total revenue would be $921,141 with payroll at $653,000 and operational funds at $269,141.

Option 2

Bristol and Mecca townships with a 24-hour crew at Bristol

• 6-mill levy -- owner of a $100,000 home would pay $210 per year; total revenue would be $662,644 with payroll at $490,000 and operational funds $172,644.

• 7-mill levy -- owner of $100,000 home would pay $245 per year; total revenue would be $773,085 with payroll at $490,000 and operational funds at $283,085.

An EMS contract with Bloomfield and Greene townships brings in more than $30,000 each and additional funds from billing. Contract funds and billing possibly could support a 12-hour Monday to Friday crew at Mecca.