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LORDSTOWN -- The village Wednesday swore in nine full-time members to its fire department, moves made possible with funds generated by a 0.5% income tax increase approved by voters in May.
Mayor Arno Hill conducted the ceremonies. The new full-timers include Eric Bower, captain; Sarah Garcia, firefighter / paramedic; Chad Foor, captain; Carly Jackson, firefighter / paramedic; William Kohn, firefighter / paramedic; James McBride, firefighter / paramedic; Scott McCloud, captain; Brian Schotsch, firefighter / paramedic; and Robert Turner, firefighter / emergency medical technician.
"This is a great event for the village. … We thank the residents for the half percent income tax so we could do this. The income tax's passage allows us to hire full-time firefighters," Hill said.
Fire Chief Travis Eastham said hiring full-time staff was attractive for people to come to Lordstown.
"I know departments that are volunteer and part-time (that) are struggling to get people. We used to have more part-time and volunteers, but most departments do not have that anymore," Eastham said.
Eastham said most of the new staff started July 1. Others started Aug. 1.
He said with more staff, the department will have three full-time and one part-time firefighters per shift. Eastham works in the day to provide four staff members during the day shift.
Starting salary for a firefighter / paramedic is $56,500.
"The residents appreciate the services we provide and knew the importance of passage of this issue," Hill said.
The income tax issue passed is on top of the 1% already being collected, bringing the village's total income tax to 1.5%.
Eastham said the increase generates between $1.2 million and $1.4 million annually and affects 18 to 20 percent of the residents who live and work in the village. Everyone working in Lordstown pays the tax.
Eastham said the money generated would be for regular operations of the fire and emergency medical service, equipment replacement, gear and fire stations, as well as hiring more full-time staff.
McCloud, who is among the three new captains, said he has known the firefighters most of his life. He also works part-time in Newton Falls.
Garcia said she was working full-time with Lanes, but decided to become full-time in Lordstown, where she had worked part-time since 2019.
Turner, who at 19 is among the youngest, said he wanted to work at his hometown fire department.