The point of regionalizing services among neighboring communities is to create efficiencies.
That’s largely the reason we would support the possibility of creating a joint fire district that could fight fires and provide emergency medical services in a collaborative effort covering Girard, Liberty Township and Weathersfield Township.
Adding any new taxes to support the effort would defeat the purpose.
Girard fire Chief Ken Bornemiss was correct when he told Girard city officials this week that he and the fire chiefs in Liberty and Weathersfield townships, who have met to discuss the idea, would be interested in continuing discussions about the possibility of a joint fire district to serve the area, but they doubt taxpayers would be interested in any additional taxes to fund a district.
bcoupland@tribtoday.com
GIRARD Girard city officials will reach out to Liberty and Weathersfield townships about splitting the cost of a feasibility study on forming a joint fire district.
Girard fire Chief Ken Bornemiss told city officials Monday he met in March with Liberty fire Chief Gus Birch and Weathersfield fire Chief Tom Lambert about the idea of possibly forming a joint district to improve services.
Bornemiss said when he spoke to Lambert and Birch, they were interested in getting information on what the budget for funding a district would need to be, how many firefighters and how many fire stations would be needed. But they are concerned that the residents of both townships likely would not be interested in any additional taxes to fund a district.
bcoupland@tribtoday.com
GIRARD With interest from Liberty and Weathersfield officials in forming a fire district, Girard fire Chief Ken Bornemiss will set up a meeting with chiefs from the two townships to study the pros and cons.
Mayor James Melfi told city council Monday that Bornemiss will begin the talks first with Liberty fire Chief Gus Birch and Weathersfield fire Chief Tom Lambert to go over the advantages and disadvantages of forming a district involving the three communities and possibly others.
“We are going to let the fire chiefs begin the talks, who will then report to their officials what has taken place. We will see what they come up with, and then the leaders will sit down,” Melfi said.