The Jerome Township Trustees again declined to hear a presentation from Fire Chief Douglas Stewart, and again said they would allow him to share at their next meeting.
A presentation surrounding the purchase of an aerial ladder truck for the Jerome Township Division of Fire was once again a point of contention during the board’s most recent meeting.
During the trustees’ July 7 meeting, as the first slide of Stewart’s PowerPoint was on screens in the Township Hall, they voted unanimously to table his presentation, largely behind a push from Trustee Wezlynn Davis.
On Monday, a similar scenario played out.
The special meeting agenda listed “aerial ladder discussion” as a topic but trustees were torn as to whether that should include a presentation from Stewart, despite saying during their last regular meeting that it was tabled until the August meeting.
“After much thought, I feel as though, with regard to this topic, we need to begin with discussion and there needs to be much discussion before a presentation that leads to a recommendation,” Davis said.
Trustee Barry Adler repeatedly noted his disagreement, emphasizing that the presentation was tabled at the last meeting.
“I think the presentation is an important piece we need to review before having a discussion,” Adler said.
Trustee Chair Megan Sloat’s comments aligned with those of Davis, as she said she felt “a discussion is time better spent.” She added that Stewart provided the trustees copies of the presentation so “we already know what that’s going to consist of.”
Adler ultimately voted alone against the approval of the agenda, which did not include Stewart’s presentation.
During the board’s discussion of the aerial ladder, Sloat asked Davis what information she would like a presentation from the chief to include.
“I want to see some real life data related to the need (for an aerial ladder),” Davis said, a point she also raised during the July 7 meeting.
She asked how often mutual aid is dispatched to Jerome Township with aerial ladders, as well as how often that occurs for commercial alarm systems compared to actual fires.
Stewart said that data was included in his presentation.
The chief emphasized that “we don’t burden our mutual aid to partner with us on fire alarms.”
While JTFD can call on mutual aid when aerial ladders are needed, he said it takes the Marysville Division of Fire 18 minutes to travel with their truck from their station to the township building.
Stewart said minutes make a difference in life-saving efforts involving a fire.
He also elaborated on when aerial ladders are used.
“Everybody has the misconception it’s about tall buildings… there are dozens of reasons (an aerial ladder truck may be needed),” Stewart said.
Aside from accessing tall buildings, such as the future OhioHealth site on U.S. 42 or three-story townhouses approved for construction in the township, Stewart said an aerial ladder truck can be used to protect nearby houses in the case of a residential fire; save individuals in a below-grade rescue situation, like when a man fell into a basement last year or to access people during a water rescue.
“The need’s never going to go away, it’s only going to get worse,” Stewart said.
He added, “We’re buying a truck for today but it’s a 20-year relationship.”
Davis said she appreciated the information included in a revised version of Stewart’s presentation, specifically that which detailed the need for an aerial ladder truck.
Still, she insisted that any future presentation “hold off on a recommendation.”
While Stewart did not share a presentation in July, the Journal-Tribune obtained a copy of his presentation through a public records request filed with the township.
The presentation compiled information gathered from a questionnaire sent to two companies that have service centers in Ohio: Pierce Manufacturing and Sutphen.
Based on their responses, Stewart’s presentation included a recommendation to purchase an aerial ladder truck from Pierce Manufacturing.
He said during the most recent meeting that “safety was number one” when considering options.
Sloat said the trustees would hear Stewart’s presentation during their next meeting, Aug. 16, though she agreed with Davis that it should omit a recommendation.
In other business, the board:
– Unanimously accepted the resignation of Assistant Zoning Inspector Joe Koralewski, effective Aug. 3.
“I want to heartily thank Joe for all of the hard work, the dedication he has given to this position,” Sloat said. “We’re sorry to see him go, but he’s pursuing other opportunities and we wish him the absolute best.”
– Unanimously approved a motion to adopt and accept the Joint Economic Development District between Jerome Township and the City of Marysville.
While the JEDD was already in place, the motion results in updates to the terms of the 2019 Cooperative Economic Development Agreement (CEDA), which acts as a framework for the JEDD.
The JEDD allows the two governments to collect income taxes from employees of businesses within a designated district, to be used to expand infrastructure.
– Approved the job descriptions for the following positions: administrative assistant, assistant zoning inspector, Board of Zoning Appeals member, fiscal officer assistant, office manager, road crew leader, road crew, roads department supervisor, township administrator, zoning clerk, Zoning Commission member and zoning inspector/planning coordinator.
Adler dissented in the 2-1 vote over an object to adding “planning coordinator” to the zoning inspector’s title.
– Unanimously accepted a motion to advertise the following positions: assistant zoning inspector, township administrator and administrative assistant.