The board of the Leesburg Township Fire Department tabled discussion on the invitation to join another fire district after a firefighter raised concerns Tuesday.
The board has expressed the intent to merge with the Northwestern Joint Fire District in Raymond to improve response times and manpower.
Bill Lowe, township trustee and fire district board member, said the three townships that make up Northwestern have approved Leesburg joining. Lowe added that the Northern Union County Fire and EMS District (NUCFD) has also offered an informal invitation to merge departments.
“Currently, it was looking much better to us over at Northwestern,” said Kevin Dotson, township trustee and fire board member. “There’s a lot of agreements that have to be put in place before anything even happens.”
Dotson acknowledged there will be “a lot of rough edges here because this is all new to us.”
“Quite frankly, nobody’s got it perfect anywhere around us,” he said.
Leesburg Firefighter Jordan, who refused to provide his full name, said Northwestern Chief Tim Merrick “will not hire you unless you are cross-trained in both fields” (Firefighting and EMS). He added that there are a handful of members of the Leesburg Township Fire Department, including his wife, who only have a single card as either an EMT or a firefighter and will lose their jobs.
Jordan also said Merrick does not allow volunteers to respond to emergency calls in personal vehicles and volunteers must live within a certain distance from the station.
Jeff Robinson, township trustee and fire board member, said the board was not told members would need to be dual certified as an EMT and firefighter. He added that Merrick said volunteers would continue to be involved in the joint district.
The board plans to approach the Northwestern Joint Fire District Board and Merrick for clarification on the matters.
Dotson said the board is looking at the sustainability of the department, and Northwestern appears to be the best partner for the future.
“We still want to protect our people the best we can,” he said.
Jordan said that if the board decides to merge with Northwestern he will resign. He is already seeking opportunities elsewhere. The board urged him to reconsider.
“We can’t afford to lose people like you,” Robinson said.
Robinson and Lowe asked the firefighter to rethink his decision and remain in contact.
Jordan said he is grateful for the department, which put him on his career path by financially supporting his education. He has worked at the department for four years, as both a volunteer and paid employee.
“I love this department more than all three of you know,” Jordan said. “If it wasn’t for this place, I wouldn’t have a career in the fire service.”
However, he insisted he would not work for the department if Merrick is in charge.
It is unclear what current Leesburg Township Fire Department Chief John Cook’s exact role would be following a merger, but the board said he will remain involved.
Additionally, at least one current board member would be represented on the Northwestern Joint Fire District board if Leesburg Township Fire Department joins the district.
Robinson said merging with Northwestern would ensure the Leesburg Township Fire Department is always staffed to meet the goal of getting the truck out the door.
“I hate bigger, but in this case I think bigger is better,” Robinson said.
Jordan argued that Northwestern struggles to staff its station, so it will not benefit Leesburg Township residents to merge with the district.
“Everybody in this county is hurting for staffing,” Jordan argued. “There are days he (Merrick) can barely keep the station staffed in Raymond, so that puts us in the same predicament.”
He added that he is “afraid of seeing it (the department) go in the wrong direction.”
“We’re at a crossroad, where we’ve got to do something,” Dotson said.
The board previously hosted a town hall where residents expressed the need to join another district to ease staffing concerns.
“The main thing is what the people want and deserve,” Robinson said.
The department cannot afford to remain an individual station because the current tax levy is expiring. The board said it would require a 12-mill tax levy just for personnel expenses to remain a standalone department.
“I want you to know what a painful decision we’re into,” Dotson said. “In the long run, it’s going to be very good for the township.”
The next Leesburg Township Fire Department Board meeting is Monday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m. at the department, 12985 Route 347, in Magnetic Springs.