New Carlisle Fire Department to Receive New Radios
By Seth Gecko
New Carlisle City Council, at their meeting on April 15, passed an ordinance accepting 20 portable radios, 5 mobile radios and 50 pagers for use by the Fire Department and EMS.
This equipment would cost over $60,000 new.
The city will be responsible for a $50 programming fee for each unit, and a $10 fee for each radio to access the MARCS system.
City Council member Ron Cobb questioned the $10 monthly fee, and Fire Chief Steve Trusty said that the savings from switching dispatching services from the City of Springfield to the Clark County Sheriff's Office would more than pay for the monthly fees.
Trusty also expressed concern that people are expressing concern on social media over the pay raises for Fire personnel.
"It was picked up that the citizens were going to be asked to pay more taxes to support the Fire Department raises," said Trusty. "I want the citizens to know that this is not true. The raises are being paid out of the levy that the citizens originally passed for us in November."
He stressed that the Fire Department is not asking for any additional money from the citizens.
Council Member Mike Lowrey expressed concern over a city vehicle that had a hole in the floorboard on the driver's side. He said that a similar new vehicle would cost the city about $40,000.
"I don't feel right sitting up here knowing someone in the city is driving around with a hole in the floor," said Lowrey.
City Public Works Director Howard Kitko said that the floor pan could be replaced at a cost of about $100.
He said that the dump bed on that particular truck was replaced about five years ago, and that, other then the hole in the floor, the truck is in good mechanical condition.
"The chassis, the engine and everything is good, but the cabin is starting to rust out," said Kitko. "I expect to get another year out of it."
He stated that a new truck similarly equipped would cost the city about $75,000 to $90,000.
He said that the relatively new dump bed on the 18-year-old truck could not be transferred to a new truck because chassis design has changed over the years.
Mayor Ethan Reynolds also expressed an interest on holding an Easter Egg hunt on this coming Saturday. "I think that we should definitely do it," said Reynolds.
City Manager Randy Bridge said that he could get 2,000 eggs, many of them filled with Smarties for $240, but expressed concern over delivery of the eggs in time.
Bridge said that there was a 2-3 day turnaround on delivery. "If there's an accident in shipping or if an accident happens on the cargo plane", the delivery date would be delayed.
Council decided to plan earlier for an egg hunt next year.
The next New Carlisle City Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 6, 2019 at 7:00 at the Smith Park Shelter House.
The next Joint Government Meeting including the New Carlisle City Council, Bethel Township Trustees and the Tecumseh School Board will be held on Monday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bethel Township Fire House.
There will be a Candidates Night featuring the two candidates for the New Carlisle City Council on Thursday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Smith Park Shelter House.
The public is welcomed at all three of these events.