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SOUTHINGTON --Residents expressed concerns and asked what will happen if a 7-mill continuous fire levy is not passed by voters in the November general election.
At Wednesday's trustees meeting, resident Jessica Kistler asked what would happen with the current EMS contract with neighboring Champion Fire Department if the fire levy doesn't pass. She asked if there would be a tax increase.
Fiscal officer Michelle Hall said the township has a three-year contract with Champion through 2024 at $40,000 for emergency medical service from Champion to Southington.
Trustee Dan Tietz said they have been fortunate to be able to work with Champion on the $40,000 cost.
Officials said costs do increase for service but the $40,000 remains through 2024.
Tietz added while the township does receive a little money from gas tax because there is no income or sales taxes in the township, property tax is the only way to fund a fire department.
Officials said passage of the levy will allow the department to go from a volunteer staff to a paid staff.
The levy would generate about $546,000 for the department each year -- $351,000 of which would be put toward staffing.
Fire Chief Scott Bower said there has been a decline in volunteers, but an increase in fire and emergency calls in recent years.
Should the levy pass, Bower said the department would be able to staff the station around the clock with two part-time personnel per shift, which will be the first regular staff in the department's nearly 75-year history.
Bower said this also would help with faster response times because volunteers now have to travel to the station from their homes before heading out on a call. Bower said funds also will be used to replace vehicles in the aging fleet, maintain and upgrade the fire station and do yearly maintenance.
Trustee Chairman Charles Hagman said if the levy passes, other existing fire levies totaling 2.9 mills would be dissolved.
Hagman said the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $245 per year. He added, along with staffing, the levy would cover costs for fire apparatus, mechanical resuscitators, underwater rescue and recovery equipment or other fire equipment, appliances, buildings, sites and vehicles.
Bower said all communities are expecting an increase per call from the Trumbull 911 Center from $5.15 to $7 per call.
Hall said people often call 911 for a headache or stomachache, which is not a 911 call and will contribute to raising the rates for service.
Bower said the fire department does what it can to seek grants.
The department received a $20,000 Ohio Ambulance Transportation grant used for paying those who worked during the coronavirus pandemic. The other was a $4,820 EMS grant for automated external defibrillators and other equipment for the ambulance.
SPEEDING BY SCHOOL
In other business, resident Bruce Sample said he is concerned with the speeding on state Route 534 by the Southington school complex and asked if a turning lane can be added into the school drive for safety.
Tietz said the Ohio Department of Transportation will not approve a turning lane at the location. It had been suggested previously.
"There is a 45-mile-per-hour zone and then they come into the school zone and zip right by," Sample said. "Think of the students who have only been driving for a year trying to get out of there with the speeders."
He said a motorcyclist was killed in an accident in that area and a school bus was clipped by another vehicle.
Sample said there is a passing zone all the way up to the school's main entrance. He said vehicles exceed the speed limit posted at 45 mph before the 20 mph school zone.
"There is no way to maneuver around a turning vehicle," he said. "There are many kids driving going in and out of the driveway. There is no turning lane and the drivers don't obey the school zone speed of 20 miles per hour during school hours."