Madison trustees delay action on ambulance proposals
The Madison Township Trustees have indicated they want more information before deciding whether to approve a proposal by Fire Chief Ken Justus to refurbish a pair of squad vehicles for the department. Trustees voted to table the proposals following a brief discussion at their regular meeting on Monday.
Justus told the board he is looking into remounting a 2011 Ford ambulance the department purchased earlier this year from a New Jersey dealer rather than using it as a temporary replacement while a remount was done on one of the department’s current units. He said remounting the recent purchase is a better option because the box is in better shape than Medic 72, has more options and would be less expensive.
Justus said Burgess Ambulance Sales in Loudonville submitted a proposal to remount Medic 72, which is a 2005 Chevrolet ambulance, at a cost of $125,290. A similar project with the newer unit would be $19,032 cheaper.
If trustees approve, Justus said it could take up to 18 months to complete the project. He explained that Burgess would have to find a chassis and then it would be 180 to 220 days after that to complete the remount.
Justus also reported that the Springfield Township Fire Department has decided against buying Medic 71 because the remount of the ambulance box from a van chassis to a truck chassis was an issue for them and because the vehicle was too unique. Madison had planned to sell Medic 71 to Springfield Township for $175,000 to cover the cost of the remount plan.
Justus said the New Jersey firm has offered to trade Medic 71 for a 2012 Ford four-wheel drive ambulance and $60,000. However, he said he told the company that the check needed to be closer to $80,000.
Trustees told Justus to negotiate with the company before they make any decision.
In other fire department business, trustees voted to accept the resignations of three full-time firefighters who are leaving for the Shelby Fire Department. The board also agreed to a recommendation by Justus to hire two of them back as part timers and met with the chief in executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss a proposal to perform what he described as “a lateral transfer of firefighters from other departments to fill Madison’s full-time openings.” No explanation was made about how the process would work.
During his administrative report, Justus told the board he received a pair of $1,000 checks from BlueScope Recycling for the fire department’s actions on Oct. 28 when it aided the Shelby Fire Department with a fire at the company facility on Ohio 39. Trustees placed the money in the township’s fire enforcement and education fund.
Justus also reported that the Ashland Eagles Club made a $2,400 donation to the fire department auxiliary that was used to buy two cold water rescue suits. The department also was awarded an $18,894 grant from the Leary Firefighters Foundation for new rapid intervention equipment.
Justus told the board that Ohio MARCS and Motorola are working to program new and current MARCS (Multi Agency Radio Communications System) radios and should have the work done in 30 days.
He also reported that the Dec. 10 fill the ambulance campaign was a success with the food donations divided between Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army and the Lucas Community Center food pantry. Justus said he plans to have another food, clothing and toy collection effort next Christmas.
In other business, Madison Trustees learned that Aqua Ohio has applied to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for a 12.87% rate increase for township customers. They also approved temporary appropriations totaling $3,474,475 for the first three months of 2023 and the renewal of the township health insurance plan.
Trustees also held a special meeting prior to the regular session to discuss property and liability insurance for 2023. The board learned that the cost will be going up about $3,000.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Madison Township trustees table ambulance proposal
