CHAMPION — Township officials and fire Chief Tom Dempsey will look to see if funds will be available to provide the matching local share for a $673,876 three-year Assistance to Firefighters grant for the fire department.

A lengthy discussion on the matter took place at Monday’s township trustees meeting.

Trustees originally voted against seeking the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant and providing a local match, but rescinded their motion to see if an extension is possible for the grant application and to review finances to see if the local match can be met each year over three years.

Officials said the federal grant would provide $273,193 in the first and second years with the township’s share being $91,064 each year.

The third year of the grant would have the federal government contributing $127,490 and the local share being $236,767, which officials are concerned about being able to meet.

Trustee Doug Emerine said the SAFER grant would cover the cost of three new full-time firefighters, but if the township could not contribute the local share, the firefighters would be laid off.

“Our concern is how will we staff the fire department three and four years from now and fix the problem,” he said. “Grants are not free. Matching money is needed and we do not have the matching money.”

Dempsey said after the second year, the township may need to put a levy on the ballot to cover the local share for the grant’s third year.

Residents asked why the department does not use more volunteer firefighters.

Emerine said there used to be a group of local residents who were volunteer firefighters, but there are no volunteers anymore because of increased training and requirements.

“We are in a different time. People don’t volunteer like they used to,” Emerine said.

Emerine said trustees would like to get bigger grants, but the local share is nearly impossible to cover. Trustees are scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 to discuss the matter further.

ADDRESSING SPEEDERS

Trustee Rex Fee said he was contacted by resident Todd Brainard about traffic problems on State Road. Brainard said he is concerned about safety.

Fee said in the past, speeding vehicles have gone off the road onto Brainard’s property and one vehicle hit his house and others have almost hit it.

Fee said a guardrail at the property would help deter vehicles from going off the road while flashing light signs and “Intersection Ahead” signs also could be used as deterrents.

Police Chief Larry Skaggs said officers have been stepping up patrols in the area, noting that 25% of speeding tickets last month were given there.

Also, Emerine said trustees have been discussing getting a community message board sign to let residents know of different happenings in the community.

Officials are looking at where such a sign would be located, such as off state Route 45 near the entrance to the township administration building.