ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — An emergency meeting on Friday between township trustees, firefighters, EMTs, medics, and community members put a temporary bandaid on a situation that was quickly hemorrhaging.
Earlier this week, the trustees of Huntington Township made an abrupt decision to restructure the way the local fire department handled EMS service. The restructuring ended in the mass resignations, including that of the fire chief, two lieutenants, and the captain. In the decision earlier this week, trustees Larry Kellough, John Cottrill, and Gary Hopkins voted to cut the hours of EMS personnel from 12-hour shifts to 8-hour shifts, which left concerns that medical coverage for the township would often go uncovered or that members would be burned out from trying to restructure around the new schedule.
After community backlash, on Friday in a second-emergency meeting — which was treated more like a summit between the fire department’s administration, the trustees, and the community — the decision was effectively reversed. Instead of 8-hour shifts, the trustees agreed to concede to a middle ground with department personnel: instead of the original schedule of two full-time EMS personnel around-the-clock that was blown up earlier this week, they would have one full-time member 24 hours a day and fill the second-24 hour position with part-time help; that is, for the time being.
The reason for the subtle change earlier this week, trustees said, is because the coffers are running out of money. According to financial records, EMS cost the township just over $300,000 to operate last year in salaries, with approximately $225,000 being recouped in insurance billing from patients for squad runs. The remaining money used to operate, township officials said, has been offset by three existing levies and the general fund. Those three levies, however, still aren’t enough to fill the void, officials said, because they were proposed to voters back when the township was a volunteer and part-time squad.
“I wish we could pay everyone $20, $25 an hour; why wouldn’t we?” said the township’s fiscal officer, Robin Snyder. “How can this township pay that unless we come to [the public] and ask for more money through a levy?” Snyder said she, herself, would vote for the levy, but she was unsure if the community as a whole would.
“This is not because we are mad at anyone, or upset with anyone. I am so proud of what we have done here in Huntington Township …. I love seeing our squad go out … my heart is just like, ‘thank you, Lord! Thank you for the people who are doing this …. but this comes down to money.”
The trustees agreed with Snyder and said that the issue was not a bone to pick with the department or its members, but rather, the finances. According to the trustees, a grant has offset expenses for the last three years, in conjunction with billing insurance and the levies, but now that the grant is expiring, the township faces a bleak future with EMS coverage. The only way to fix that, Snyder said, is to ask the taxpayers for more money through another levy. Meanwhile, other grants have been applied for, but not yet awarded.
The trustees conceded, however, that they blindsided the department’s members earlier this week with their decision to restructure and apologized for not communicating or asking for input.
“We have plans to put a levy on the ballot in November,” she said. “It is a 2mil levy that is already in existence [but it is a renewal]. A renewal means it is going to bring in the same amount of money it always has [which is not going to sustain operations as they are today]. A replacement levy means you are going to get a bump up. We already have a replacement in place [in the works to ask for more].”
Upon discussion with fire members that were in existence, and community members, it was agreed that a community board would be formed, comprised of a trustee, fire members, and citizens to formulate a plan on how to salvage operations, which may include an increased additional levy this November or perhaps on the ballot next spring.
For the time being, at least until August, the department will go to the “triage” status of 1 full-time EMS provider with part-time help filling the void, which should continue around-the-clock coverage. In August, property taxes will be paid to the township and the amount they receive will determine the viability of a long-term plan.
In the meantime, the fire members and fire chief have agreed to rescind their resignations at the request of the trustees.
The community board is expected to meet as early as next week to start planning the future as the deadline for November ballot measures nears.