Officers for 2013 were chosen at the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board’s regular monthly meeting Monday evening.

Dennis Darr was chosen president of the advisory board. Kimberly Cates was chosen president of the Turkey Creek Fire Territory Executive Board, while Darr was chosen secretary of that board. Third member of the advisory board and current president, Bill Dixon, will not hold an office on either board in 2013.

In her report, township trustee Barb Griffith said the financials for November looked good. She reported township assistance increased slightly due to the colder weather.

Due to take effect Jan. 1, 2013, the board approved the Turkey Creek Township/ Syracuse Professional Firefighters Union Local 4795 2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement. Cates has been working for the past several months with the township’s attorney and the firefighters union to construct a bargaining agreement.

“’Collective bargaining agreement’ can be scary words, but this one is a good one. What the firefighters wanted was to be recognized as a union and have a set of guidelines agreed upon. I’m good with that,” said Dixon.

The agreement reflects the previously approved 2013 salary ordinance with the exception of a change to personal time allowance. All full time employees will now earn 12 hours of personal time each quarter that sick time is not taken, rather than the previously approved eight hours. An updated salary ordinance reflecting this change will need to approved by the board, and the budget adjusted to accommodate the additional hours.

In his report, fire chief Mickey Scott reported a total of 86 fire and EMS responses in November. He also reported on the following:

• No determination has been made by the Turkey Creek Fire Territory Executive Board on the renovation of Fire Station 1.
• A new fire hose was ordered to replace a hose that failed during testing. Total cost was $4,445.
• Firefighter/EMT Matt Dunithan was accepted into the paramedic program set to begin Jan. 2, 2013. The program will conclude April 2014.

Scott also expressed his thanks to the board for working with the department during 2012 to provide the best possible fire and EMS coverage to the community.
After requesting a resolution to allow 5 percent, or $70,002, to be transferred from the 2012 Operation Budget into the Turkey Creek Fire Territory Equipment Replacement Fund per Indiana state code, the board unanimously approved Scott’s request.

The Turkey Creek Township Advisors meet at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month at Syracuse Fire Station Two. The next meeting will be Jan. 8, 2013.