City of Wilmington, Washington Township far apart on a new fire/EMS agreement

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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP — The president of the township trustees here is concerned about contract negotiations with the City of Wilmington for emergency medical and fire protection services.

The township pays the city about $58,000 per year under the current contract. Washington Township Board of Trustees President Jon Sharp said Monday the city wants to raise that to $170,000.

Sharp said the township does not have a lot of options for fire protection.

“On behalf of the residents, we don’t want to pay more taxes. I mean, the farmers have been hit hard,” Sharp said, alluding to the effects a higher-millage levy would have on farmland owners in the township.

The township is south of Wilmington, and includes the unincorporated village of Cuba. The City of Wilmington’s agreement with Washington Township for emergency medical and fire protection services expires on June 30.

Brian A. Shidaker, Wilmington director of public service and public safety, said because the fire and EMS agreement is currently in negotiations, he is limited in what he can say publicly.

“The administration is actively negotiating the terms of the contract and is committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible,” he said. “It is important to note that the city has agreements with other townships and [with] our city residents that are disproportionate to Washington’s existing contract.

“I cannot comment on the details because this is a pending negotiation, but the City of Wilmington’s goal is to be fair to all citizens, to the other townships with whom we hold fire and EMS contracts, as well as to Washington Township,” added Shidaker.

Sharp said, “We’ve worked with the City of Wilmington for years in [emergency services] coverage.”

Presently, the township has a 1.6-mills property tax levy that funds its fire and EMS contract with Wilmington. The city wants the township to put a 5-mills levy on the ballot, said the trustees president.

He broke that down for property owners. For a $100,000 property, the annual cost of the current fire and EMS levy is $160. With a 5-mills levy, that same property owner would pay $500 a year, said Sharp.

Sharp said he has visited with the Martinsville Fire Department, which is stationed south of Washington Township, regarding possible coverage and is waiting to hear back.

He said state law requires a fire service, but the township does not have to provide life squad service to its residents.

Township trustees hope they can put in a counter-offer of $72,500 to the city, said Sharp.

Shidaker stated the city wants to continue to provide uninterrupted fire and EMS services to Washington Township. He also noted that city council must authorize and approve any agreement between the cty and the township.

In the month of March, the Wilmington Fire Department (WFD) was dispatched four times to the township for fire protection, and the WFD’s life squad made 16 runs to the township, reported the trustees.

The situation concerning the township’s fire and EMS contract arose during dual business meetings Monday morning involving the Washington Township trustees and the Clinton County commissioners, held in the township building in Cuba.

Jennifer Gaines, a Washington Township resident who lives a little south of Cowan Lake, told the local government officials she is concerned about some of the conditions of neighboring houses as well as open burning.

She said she probably won’t have a graduation party for her daughter because she would be embarrassed for people to come on the road.

“I had a nice home. My husband lost his job in this economy, but we’ve got a new one. I feel like sometimes we blame the economy for kind of living like trash. I bought a home in Clinton County — not Appalachia. And that’s kind of how I feel like that’s becoming,” Gaines said.

She added, “I didn’t buy a home with a homeowners association or a gated community. But I don’t think I should have to look at that trash all day long.”

Trustee Randy Hibbs said he agreed with her.

Clinton County Commissioners President Kerry R. Steed said part of the picture is that the township does not have zoning regulations “so thus you have no enforcement on many of the properties unless it carries over to a health department issue or to a legal issue with the sheriff’s [office].”

Hibbs said he disagrees with Steed on zoning, saying a person can go to any zoned township in the county and find the same problems.

But Steed responded that zoning does provide a foundation for some of the things Gaines brought up.

In another matter, commissioners voted 3-0 to deny a request to rezone about four acres at the corner of Williams Road and State Route 73 West from A-3 Agriculture / Residential Transition District to C-2 General Commercial District.

Applicant Josh Schlabach said a building there has been used to store equipment for installing vinyl siding, and the business has grown and there now are opportunities to sell product as a retailer. Further, they recently purchased Ellis Fence Company and wanted to rezone in order to store and display products outdoors.

The recommendation from Clinton County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) opposed the rezoning request, while the Clinton County Rural Zoning Commission recommended in favor.

Steed said because of the list of businesses eligible to go in a C-2 zone, there was concern about the future use of the site when perhaps another operation locates there.

The possibilities, for example, of a gas station or tire place “that would be out of character for that property” was the determining factor, said Steed.

Taylor Stuckert, executive director of CCRPC, has suggested there are alternate avenues for Schlabach to conduct his business in the same spot, related Steed, adding the county commissioners want Schlabach to succeed.

Schlabach said, “I was hoping for a different outcome, but I understand where you’re at.”

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.

Washington Township Board of Trustees President Jon Sharp, right foreground, talks about the emergency medical and fire protection services contract with the City of Wilmington that will expire June 30. Listening are Washington Township Trustee Randy Hibbs, left foreground, and businessman Josh Schlabach in the center background.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/04/web1_sharp_p_f.jpgWashington Township Board of Trustees President Jon Sharp, right foreground, talks about the emergency medical and fire protection services contract with the City of Wilmington that will expire June 30. Listening are Washington Township Trustee Randy Hibbs, left foreground, and businessman Josh Schlabach in the center background.

By Gary Huffenberger

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