Zink, Mikkelsen debate issue of township EMS contracts WATCH THE VIDEO
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink and former Hillsboro Mayoral candidate Terry Mikkelsen exchanged words during a Hillsboro City Council meeting Monday when Mikkelsen asked for an update on the state of the EMS contracts with area townships.
Mikkelsen asked if the June 30 deadline set by Hillsboro Safety Service Director Ralph Holt was still in effect.
Holt was not in attendance during the meeting Monday, but Zink said that interim Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, legal counsel to Hamer, Jackson, Liberty, New Market, Paint, Penn and Washington townships, which contract for fire and EMS with Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, had been in contact with Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery.
"They seem to think there is something in the works that will allow us to come to an understanding in the very near future," Zink said. "We haven't talked to anybody because nobody has come in to talk."
Several trustees from various townships have told The Highland County Press that they are letting their legal counsel handle the matter and will not deal with the city on an individual basis.
Beery told Mikkelsen that he did not want to speak on the specifics of the matter, as it was still pending.
"I don't want to represent what those discussions are," Beery said. "I might speak out of turn and say something they don't want."
Mikkelsen said that he was curious if there had been "progression" on the contracts.
"My biggest concern is that I have heard a lot of the townships are looking to go elsewhere, and it's a large portion of our general fund budget," Mikkelsen said. "I'm very concerned. I don't live in a township, I live in the city, but that money still goes to the general fund. I'm hope that if this can't be resolved soon, council was the ones who initiated Ralph Holt to negotiate those contracts, and if that is not something that can be done at this time, I think council needs to appoint someone else to make sure that we keep that money coming in."
Zink said, "We don't have money coming in from the life squad."
"Really?" Mikkelsen said. "You just throw it away?"
"No," Zink said. "It doesn't come in. Just whatever the insurance pays."
In March, the city reported that they collected $273,617 from insurance companies for EMS runs to non-city residents.
"That's the reason we're $473,000 short of getting in what we billed last year," Zink said.
Mikkelsen said, "So when insurance pays, it doesn't come to us?"
"Yeah, it goes to the general fund, but I'm talking about $473,000 that wasn't coming in last year," Zink said.
In a March letter to then-Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey, Holt wrote that "In 2010, the city billed $746,835.54 to non-residents of Hillsboro. We received $273,617.56 from insurance and personal payments; this left the city with a loss of $473,217.98, which the citizens of Hillsboro had to absorb."
"So we are getting money from EMS," Mikkelsen said.
"Oh yeah, you're getting some money from EMS, but not near what it's costing us. And the taxpayers of the city of Hillsboro are supplementing the life squad for the townships. All we're trying to do - hold it," Zink said as Mikkelsen started to respond. "All we're trying to do is get together where both sides can come together and work out something where we're not paying the taxpayers - which I'm one of and you are - are not paying for services outside the city. And I think we can do that if we get an opportunity to talk to the township trustees. This isn't like buying a pair of sneakers, one size fits all. There's different calls made to different townships. That's what we need to talk to them about and so far we have not been able to do that."
"But so far you're trying to make it a one size fits all by making a 3.2-mill levy across the board," Mikkelsen said.
Council President Lee Koogler attempted to interject in the discussion, but Mikkelsen and Zink continued their exchange, speaking at the same time.
Zink shook his finger at Mikkelsen as they raised their voices, saying, "No, we're not, no, we're not trying to do that because you don't know what you're talking about, sir, I'm sorry."
Koogler ended the exchange.
"I'll tell you what," Koogler said. "At this point, the question was levied about where things stand in regards to it, and it is my understanding from Mr. Beery that he is trying to address that through counsel representing the townships in hopes that a resolution will come forward. I am certain that if there is a resolution, obviously, it will be made public as soon as we get to that point."
Mikkelsen said, "I hope that council can address the issue if it doesn't come to a resolution soon so we don't lose the townships."
Koogler said, "Council will do what it feels is appropriate at that time."
Just prior to the meeting's adjournment, Koogler readdressed the issue of the contracts.
"Before we adjourn, I would state, Mr. Mikkelsen had made comments in regards to wanting to know the progress wanting to know where things stand with the city," Koogler said. "I know I personally hope that, Mr. Beery, that your efforts (with) our interim prosecutor can be mutually beneficial and I wish you the best of luck in proceeding forward because I think it is best for all."
As previously reported in The Highland County Press, Penn Township is currently in talks to contract with the Highland County North Joint Fire and Ambulance District. Paint Township is in talks to join the Paint Creek Joint Fire and Ambulance District.
The city previously had not included EMS charges in the fire contracts the townships pay for. In May 2010, when the city proposed new contracts to the townships, they included EMS charges. That initial contract proposal to the townships had increases in services between 42 percent and 76.34 percent for the individual townships. The Ohio Revised Code prohibits levy funds designated to pay for fire services to be used for EMS services. Most of the townships have indicated they will need to take the issue of a separate EMS levy to the voters.
The townships submitted a letter to the city, dated Nov. 16, saying they would agree to the 18-percent increase in 2011 for the fire contract only provided, however, that the city of Hillsboro continue to provide EMS services to the townships at no extra charge through, and including, Dec. 31, 2011. Council voted 5-2 to accept the contract, with council members Rod Daniels and Mary Brown Turner voting against it.
Holt sent the townships a letter dated March 17 stating that services would be cancelled as of June 30. Holt reported to the Hillsboro City Council during the May meeting that he has heard no response from the townships. The Highland County Prosecutor's Office is legal counsel to the townships.
Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink and former Hillsboro Mayoral candidate Terry Mikkelsen exchanged words during a Hillsboro City Council meeting Monday when Mikkelsen asked for an update on the state of the EMS contracts with area townships.
Mikkelsen asked if the June 30 deadline set by Hillsboro Safety Service Director Ralph Holt was still in effect.
Holt was not in attendance during the meeting Monday, but Zink said that interim Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, legal counsel to Hamer, Jackson, Liberty, New Market, Paint, Penn and Washington townships, which contract for fire and EMS with Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, had been in contact with Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery.
"They seem to think there is something in the works that will allow us to come to an understanding in the very near future," Zink said. "We haven't talked to anybody because nobody has come in to talk."
Several trustees from various townships have told The Highland County Press that they are letting their legal counsel handle the matter and will not deal with the city on an individual basis.
Beery told Mikkelsen that he did not want to speak on the specifics of the matter, as it was still pending.
"I don't want to represent what those discussions are," Beery said. "I might speak out of turn and say something they don't want."
Mikkelsen said that he was curious if there had been "progression" on the contracts.
"My biggest concern is that I have heard a lot of the townships are looking to go elsewhere, and it's a large portion of our general fund budget," Mikkelsen said. "I'm very concerned. I don't live in a township, I live in the city, but that money still goes to the general fund. I'm hope that if this can't be resolved soon, council was the ones who initiated Ralph Holt to negotiate those contracts, and if that is not something that can be done at this time, I think council needs to appoint someone else to make sure that we keep that money coming in."
Zink said, "We don't have money coming in from the life squad."
"Really?" Mikkelsen said. "You just throw it away?"
"No," Zink said. "It doesn't come in. Just whatever the insurance pays."
In March, the city reported that they collected $273,617 from insurance companies for EMS runs to non-city residents.
"That's the reason we're $473,000 short of getting in what we billed last year," Zink said.
Mikkelsen said, "So when insurance pays, it doesn't come to us?"
"Yeah, it goes to the general fund, but I'm talking about $473,000 that wasn't coming in last year," Zink said.
In a March letter to then-Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey, Holt wrote that "In 2010, the city billed $746,835.54 to non-residents of Hillsboro. We received $273,617.56 from insurance and personal payments; this left the city with a loss of $473,217.98, which the citizens of Hillsboro had to absorb."
"So we are getting money from EMS," Mikkelsen said.
"Oh yeah, you're getting some money from EMS, but not near what it's costing us. And the taxpayers of the city of Hillsboro are supplementing the life squad for the townships. All we're trying to do - hold it," Zink said as Mikkelsen started to respond. "All we're trying to do is get together where both sides can come together and work out something where we're not paying the taxpayers - which I'm one of and you are - are not paying for services outside the city. And I think we can do that if we get an opportunity to talk to the township trustees. This isn't like buying a pair of sneakers, one size fits all. There's different calls made to different townships. That's what we need to talk to them about and so far we have not been able to do that."
"But so far you're trying to make it a one size fits all by making a 3.2-mill levy across the board," Mikkelsen said.
Council President Lee Koogler attempted to interject in the discussion, but Mikkelsen and Zink continued their exchange, speaking at the same time.
Zink shook his finger at Mikkelsen as they raised their voices, saying, "No, we're not, no, we're not trying to do that because you don't know what you're talking about, sir, I'm sorry."
Koogler ended the exchange.
"I'll tell you what," Koogler said. "At this point, the question was levied about where things stand in regards to it, and it is my understanding from Mr. Beery that he is trying to address that through counsel representing the townships in hopes that a resolution will come forward. I am certain that if there is a resolution, obviously, it will be made public as soon as we get to that point."
Mikkelsen said, "I hope that council can address the issue if it doesn't come to a resolution soon so we don't lose the townships."
Koogler said, "Council will do what it feels is appropriate at that time."
Just prior to the meeting's adjournment, Koogler readdressed the issue of the contracts.
"Before we adjourn, I would state, Mr. Mikkelsen had made comments in regards to wanting to know the progress wanting to know where things stand with the city," Koogler said. "I know I personally hope that, Mr. Beery, that your efforts (with) our interim prosecutor can be mutually beneficial and I wish you the best of luck in proceeding forward because I think it is best for all."
As previously reported in The Highland County Press, Penn Township is currently in talks to contract with the Highland County North Joint Fire and Ambulance District. Paint Township is in talks to join the Paint Creek Joint Fire and Ambulance District.
The city previously had not included EMS charges in the fire contracts the townships pay for. In May 2010, when the city proposed new contracts to the townships, they included EMS charges. That initial contract proposal to the townships had increases in services between 42 percent and 76.34 percent for the individual townships. The Ohio Revised Code prohibits levy funds designated to pay for fire services to be used for EMS services. Most of the townships have indicated they will need to take the issue of a separate EMS levy to the voters.
The townships submitted a letter to the city, dated Nov. 16, saying they would agree to the 18-percent increase in 2011 for the fire contract only provided, however, that the city of Hillsboro continue to provide EMS services to the townships at no extra charge through, and including, Dec. 31, 2011. Council voted 5-2 to accept the contract, with council members Rod Daniels and Mary Brown Turner voting against it.
Holt sent the townships a letter dated March 17 stating that services would be cancelled as of June 30. Holt reported to the Hillsboro City Council during the May meeting that he has heard no response from the townships. The Highland County Prosecutor's Office is legal counsel to the townships.
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