PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

 

MAY 25, 2006

 

The meeting was called to order by Ms. Sellers at 6:00 p.m.

 

Members Present:  Leah Sellers, Mark Reams, John Marshall

 

Others Present:  Kathy House, Chief Johnson

 

AGENDA:

 

          New fire station location & vacation options for current station.

 

Chief Johnson gave a brief overview of current department operations.  Reviewed the organization chart.  Service areas are Paris and Dover Township, including the City of Marysville.  Serve a very small portion of Darby and southern Leesburg Township for EMS.  Fire service area covers 69 sq. miles. When you include EMS, total is 86 sq. miles.  City is 14.7 sq. miles, but comprises 82% of the response calls.  Fire suppression, 76% in the City, 17% in contracted areas, 7% is mutual aid.  Staffing has not changed since 1997.  Growth has increased by 70%.  Marysville is very fortunate to have mutual aid contracts to help out.

 

The issue of trains delaying response time was discussed.  There is no way of knowing of a train until you are almost upon it, then you have to turn around and go another way, such as the bypass.

 

Mr. Reams asked how much longer can we continue to operate with one station.  Administration feels being able to staff two stations is a long way off.  Knowing this, the City is trying to find out how to better serve the people with a single station until such time that the City can afford to staff two stations.  That’s why the west side is being proposed, quick bypass access that can still serve the interior.  Have looked at the ORW property and the Raymond Rd/5^th Street property (which the City owns).  Both have quick bypass access.  If the Collins Avenue site is pursued, there will be a traffic light issue.  The Raymond Rd/5^th Street property is very valuable, and it was thought that the City could pay for a station by selling that property.  Mr. Reams is concerned that say three years down the road the City has a fire levy or fire district or some other solution where they City could operate 2 stations, we would find out the proposed location is not the ideal location for a two-station operation.  Ms. House does not think the southeast bypass is ever going to happen.

 

Primary focus should be servicing City of Marysville, the rest are contracted.  City should build our services based on the needs of the City.  City should plan for a second station.

 

Next steps:

          Ms. House would like to pursue the ORW site with the State.  It will be a long process.  Would like the Committee’s support in starting this process.  Need to get the design and engineering of a new fire station in the budget.  Doesn’t feel the design of a station would necessarily have to be specific to the site.  Mr. Marshall asked if the police would have a presence at the new fire station.  Response was no.  However, the building could be designed as a multi-use building if desired.

 

          Mr. Marshall stated that with the mutual aid contracts, etc., it sounds like a Fire District may be an option.  Chief Johnson stated you have to remember that more calls are made in the City than outside the City. 

 

It will take 2 – 2-1/2 years to build a fire station. 

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.