Trustees take EMS concerns to commissioners
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Several township trustees brought concerns of the pending June 30 deadline on previously contracted EMS services to the Highland County Board of Commissioners Wednesday, June 15.
Trustees from Liberty, New Market, Jackson, Hamer, Paint, Penn and Washington townships were on the commissioners' agenda. However, not all townships were represented.
As the officials seek to come to a resolution on the matter, the trustees say they will not put a levy on for EMS because it will be voted down.
Penn Township is currently negotiating with the Highland County North Joint Fire and Ambulance District for emergency medical services. Paint Township is currently in talks to join the Paint Creek Joint Fire and EMS District out of Greenfield.
The townships have received a June 30 deadline for a new contract, which was established by Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt in a March 17 letter to the trustees. The letter was sent less than six months after Hillsboro City Council had voted to continue EMS services through Dec. 31, 2011, after the townships had agreed to an 18-percent fee increase in 2011 for the fire contract, which included EMS services.
To further complicate matters, the Highland County Prosecutor's Office provides legal counsel to the townships. With the recent resignation of former prosecutor Jim Grandey, and the anticipated June 15 selection of an interim prosecutor by the Highland County Republican Party Central Committee, there was, in the words of Commission President Shane Wilkin, "a perfect storm" (for getting a legal opinion this week).
"We're going to need some help," Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard told commissioners. "We would have had until the end of 2011; then, we get a letter that on June 30, we're done."
Mustard also said that "some of the squad (vehicles) are titled to the county."
Commissioners presented copies of a June 2, 1999 "indefinite agreement" between the city of Hillsboro and Highland County, in which the county would provide an emergency life squad vehicle, in exchange for EMS services in the territory assigned under an April 4, 1977 agreement.
Mustard also told commissioners that trustees had met with EAST Ambulance Services.
"It sounded promising," Mustard said. "The way they bill, I think it would be an advantage to the townships. But if we wait until the end of June, we won't have time to get EAST (for July 1 and thereafter)."
Wilkin then asked if all of the affected townships had agreed to the 18-percent increase.
"Yes," Mustard said.
Liberty Township Trustee Jim Grove said, "It's to the point, 'Who do you believe?' They tell you one thing and do another."
Mustard added, "We have nothing against the firefighters. It's the (city) administration."
Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer then asked, "Are you going to put on a levy?"
"No, it won't pass," trustees responded.
"(With the current economy) I don't think any levy will pass," Grove said.
"I agree," Commissioner Tom Horst said. "With the economy, I don't think it will pass."
The Ohio Revised Code prohibits levy funds designated to pay for fire services to be used for EMS services. The city previously had not included EMS charges in the fire contracts, so most of the levies that are currently being collected are written to provide funds for fire services only.
Shaffer said, "This (city) administration is leaving. What's the new administration going to do?"
"That still leaves us six months without service," Mustard said.
"As far as getting a legal opinion, we're kind of at a 'perfect storm,'" Wilkin told the trustees. "We're waiting for the decision on the next prosecutor."
Mustard also mentioned that other EMS providers may service small portions of Paint Township, then added, "Either way, a 3.2-mill levy or 5.5 mills, a levy's not going to fly."
Hillsboro City Auditor Gary Lewis then asked where the millage number arose.
Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley responded, "Isn't that what's being reported?"
The proposed 3.2-mill township levy was introduced in a March 22, 2011 letter from Hillsboro Assistant Fire Chief Ed Puckett to Mayor Dick Zink and Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt.
Puckett projected the 3.2-mill levy would generate $670,496 in revenue for the city and could lead to two substations within the townships.
"Chief (Jerry) Powell (Puckett's supervisor), does he have the authority to speak for the city of Hillsboro?" Lewis asked. "I have not heard of the 3.2 mills."
Wilkin concluded the meeting by saying, "My suggestion is to let the (Highland County GOP) Central Committee make its decision on a prosecutor and then get back with you when we're all on the same page."
"Our time's running out quick," Mustard responded.[[In-content Ad]]
Trustees from Liberty, New Market, Jackson, Hamer, Paint, Penn and Washington townships were on the commissioners' agenda. However, not all townships were represented.
As the officials seek to come to a resolution on the matter, the trustees say they will not put a levy on for EMS because it will be voted down.
Penn Township is currently negotiating with the Highland County North Joint Fire and Ambulance District for emergency medical services. Paint Township is currently in talks to join the Paint Creek Joint Fire and EMS District out of Greenfield.
The townships have received a June 30 deadline for a new contract, which was established by Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt in a March 17 letter to the trustees. The letter was sent less than six months after Hillsboro City Council had voted to continue EMS services through Dec. 31, 2011, after the townships had agreed to an 18-percent fee increase in 2011 for the fire contract, which included EMS services.
To further complicate matters, the Highland County Prosecutor's Office provides legal counsel to the townships. With the recent resignation of former prosecutor Jim Grandey, and the anticipated June 15 selection of an interim prosecutor by the Highland County Republican Party Central Committee, there was, in the words of Commission President Shane Wilkin, "a perfect storm" (for getting a legal opinion this week).
"We're going to need some help," Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard told commissioners. "We would have had until the end of 2011; then, we get a letter that on June 30, we're done."
Mustard also said that "some of the squad (vehicles) are titled to the county."
Commissioners presented copies of a June 2, 1999 "indefinite agreement" between the city of Hillsboro and Highland County, in which the county would provide an emergency life squad vehicle, in exchange for EMS services in the territory assigned under an April 4, 1977 agreement.
Mustard also told commissioners that trustees had met with EAST Ambulance Services.
"It sounded promising," Mustard said. "The way they bill, I think it would be an advantage to the townships. But if we wait until the end of June, we won't have time to get EAST (for July 1 and thereafter)."
Wilkin then asked if all of the affected townships had agreed to the 18-percent increase.
"Yes," Mustard said.
Liberty Township Trustee Jim Grove said, "It's to the point, 'Who do you believe?' They tell you one thing and do another."
Mustard added, "We have nothing against the firefighters. It's the (city) administration."
Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer then asked, "Are you going to put on a levy?"
"No, it won't pass," trustees responded.
"(With the current economy) I don't think any levy will pass," Grove said.
"I agree," Commissioner Tom Horst said. "With the economy, I don't think it will pass."
During the negotiations for fire services and EMS that took place in 2010, Grandey indicated that the townships would put on levies. In a letter Grandey wrote in November to the city of Hillsboro he said, that since there will be no primary election, "the earliest the townships will be able to place a levy on the ballot will be November 2011. Therefore, the specifics of the contracts for 2012 and beyond will need to be finalized no later than the end of July 2011 in order to meet the early August 2011 filing deadlines for getting the resolution to the board of elections."
The Ohio revised code prohibits levy funds designated to pay for fire services to be used for EMS services. The city previously had not included EMS charges in the fire contracts, so most of the levies that are currently being collected are written to provide funds for fire services only.
During the negotiations for fire services and EMS that took place in 2010, Jim Grandey indicated that the townships would put on levies. In a letter Grandey wrote in November to the city of Hillsboro he said that since there will be no primary election, "the earliest the townships will be able to place a levy on the ballot will be November 2011. Therefore, the specifics of the contracts for 2012 and beyond will need to be finalized no later than the end of July 2011 in order to meet the early August 2011 filing deadlines for getting the resolution to the board of elections."
The Ohio Revised Code prohibits levy funds designated to pay for fire services to be used for EMS services. The city previously had not included EMS charges in the fire contracts, so most of the levies that are currently being collected are written to provide funds for fire services only.
Shaffer said, "This (city) administration is leaving. What's the new administration going to do?"
"That still leaves us six months without service," Mustard said.
"As far as getting a legal opinion, we're kind of at a 'perfect storm,'" Wilkin told the trustees. "We're waiting for the decision on the next prosecutor."
Mustard also mentioned that other EMS providers may service small portions of Paint Township, then added, "Either way, a 3.2-mill levy or 5.5 mills, a levy's not going to fly."
Hillsboro City Auditor Gary Lewis then asked where the millage number arose.
Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley responded, "Isn't that what's being reported?"
The proposed 3.2-mill township levy was introduced in a March 22, 2011 letter from Hillsboro Assistant Fire Chief Ed Puckett to Mayor Dick Zink and Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt.
Puckett projected the 3.2-mill levy would generate $670,496 in revenue for the city and could lead to two substations within the townships.
"Chief (Jerry) Powell (Puckett's supervisor), does he have the authority to speak for the city of Hillsboro?" Lewis asked. "I have not heard of the 3.2 mills."
Wilkin concluded the meeting by saying, "My suggestion is to let the (Highland County GOP) Central Committee make its decision on a prosecutor and then get back with you when we're all on the same page."
"Our time's running out quick," Mustard responded.[[In-content Ad]]