Voters to decide on 1-mill additional levy for Columbia Twp. Fire Department

Columbia Township fire Chief Ray Anthony is asking residents to vote yes Nov. 3 on Issue 9, which is an additional 1-mill levy that will be used to pay for the station’s operating costs, personnel and to replace outdated equipment.

Officials stated the Fire Department currently runs on a 1.5-mill operating levy which covers everything from vehicle maintenance and repair to manning the station on a 24-hour basis.

The Department has of 34 employees consisting of 21 paramedics, two intermediate EMT’s and 11 basic EMT’s. It also has three members on the Lorain County Hazardous Materials Team, two members on the Lorain County Dive Team and a single member on the Lorain County Bomb Squad.

“We are using the majority of the current levy just for payroll,” Anthony said. “It doesn’t leave the much room to upgrade our equipment.”

According to chief, the levy will generate about $211,000 per year and will cost homeowners about $35 per $100,000 of valuation per year for five years.

Fire departments rely heavily on their equipment and having the most up-to-date technology can be the major factor in saving someone’s life, Anthony said.

The levy will allow the Department to replace their outdated LifePak 12 units — a combined monitor and defibrillator — with the newer LifePak 15 model, he said.

“Our medics do phenomenal things and people’s outcomes in a situation are much better because of the tools they have to do it,” Anthony said.

The devices allow nearby hospitals to monitor victim’s vitals before they even leave the scene of an accident or fire. For example, if a victim needs a clot buster drug, the hospital will see this and can have it on hand as paramedics walk through the door with the victim, Anthony said.

Additionally, the levy will pay for worker’s compensation, insurance, utilities and training, he said.

The part-time department covers an area of about 25 square miles with firefighters responding to about 800 calls per year.

“We pride ourselves on giving the best we can to the people we serve,” Anthony said.