FOWLER — Township trustees and fire officials gathered this week to review the amount of funding that would be needed to provide 24-hour, seven-days-per-week fire protection in the community.

While no final decision has been made by trustees on what type of levy to seek, likely in 2026, officials are compiling necessity and wish lists for the department.

The fire department has two full-time staff — one is a medic and the other an emergency medical technician — and a part-time fire chief. The full-time staff works 24-hour shifts and then are off for 48 hours.

Officials have discussed having three full-time staff and one duty crew of part-time staff to provide the seven-day-per-week coverage.

Currently, the highest pay for staff is $17.75 per hour.

Trustees said they are dealing with overtime of current staff to cover shifts.

Trustee Jeff Davis said at a work session Wednesday that some type of levy is needed. He said the levy would generate funds for personnel staffing at the fire department.

The next step for trustees is coming up with an amount that officials feel would be needed.

“With a new chief, we need to see where we actually are at with monies coming into the fire department and monies being spent,” Davis said. “I believe we will have to ask for a levy to help cover the cost for personnel and of running the ambulance. We have to decide when.”

Fire Chief Todd Metzendorf, who became the new chief in June, said trying to get a levy on the November ballot would be a rush since the deadline to get an issue on the ballot is Aug. 4.

“We need to review what dollars are needed for operating the fire department and providing more shift coverage,” Metzendorf said.

Trustees said they are looking at what firefighters are paid since other townships have increased their pay per hour in recent years.

Officials discussed options for a fire / EMS levy, which could be a five-year or a 10-year levy.

Davis said officials need to look at the tax base and what funds from property tax will be generated in the next five to 10 years to run the fire department.

Metzendorf said the last time a fire levy was on the ballot was in 2017.

He said changes are coming in standards with fire vehicle changes and guidelines.

Former trustee Steve Rudge said that in 2023 the fire department brought in $443,000 in property taxes and medical billing. Officials said that in 2024, property tax and medical billing accounted for $346,480.

Metzendorf said that in the near future an ambulance and other fire vehicles will need to be replaced.

He said the fire department did receive $628,000 from the estate of a resident that has been used toward purchase of items which grant monies did not cover.