SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek fire territory and township boards convened in tandem meetings Monday, Sept. 10.

Turkey Creek fire board members Corky Wong, left, Larry Martindale, John Heckaman and Dennis Darr study Fire Chief Mickey Scott’s monthly report. (Photo by Ray Balogh)

The township board took up the first reading of the fire territory’s 2019 proposed budget. The second reading will take place at the board’s October meeting.

At the meetings, Fire Chief Mickey Scott presented his monthly report.

He reported the department responded to 15 fire calls and 84 EMS calls in August. That month the territory suffered no property loss by fire and an estimated $280,000 in property was saved during the fire responses.

Scott also reported an additional appropriation of $300,000 for the equipment replacement budget was approved last month by the fire and township boards and Syracuse Town Council.

“We are continuing to accept full-time employment applications through Friday, Sept. 14,” he said. Applications can be obtained at either fire station or by visiting www.syracusefd.com.

Scott also reported the monthly outdoor warning siren test scheduled for Friday, Sept. 7, was not conducted “due to the inclement weather in the area and the possibility of raising unnecessary concern from the citizens in our area. We will conduct the test Friday, Sept. 14, weather permitting.” He noted the sirens are “set off only for tornado warnings, not for severe weather warnings.”

The department refused delivery of the new vacuum tanker ordered last year. “During inspection of the truck, there were some issues noted to be incorrect,” said Scott. “The truck was sent back to the manufacturer and we will not accept delivery or pay the invoice until these issues are resolved.”

The department completed maintenance on backup electric generators at both fire stations and is conducting annual testing of fire hose. Two rolls of hose were deemed insufficient for the department and were donated to the Syracuse Street Department. “They operate the hoses under a lower pressure,” said Scott.

The annual pump testing for fire engines and platform aerial is scheduled for later this month and Oct. 20.

Scott reported department personnel underwent 381 hours of fire and EMS training in August. Training topics included elevated rescue techniques, response strategies on large-scale emergencies, setting up and establishing pump operations, emergency preplans, burn trauma and stroke patient management and vehicle and equipment checks.

Fire Board

The board unanimously passed Scott’s request to change the department’s life insurance carrier to Principal Life Insurance Company effective Oct. 1. He reported “some recent issues we had involving our current life insurance company for our employees and a mistake made on their end that could have resulted in a loss of coverage if we had not caught the mistake.”

Township Board

Township Trustee Barb Griffith presented her monthly report of expenditures. She reported her office disbursed August poor relief in the following amounts: $1,100 for rent, $3,861.98 for utilities and $475.21 for food.

Griffith presented and board members signed a resolution authorizing an additional appropriation of $300,000 for improvements to both of the territory’s fire stations. The state requires such a resolution be sent to the Department of Local Government Finance.

The fire board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, in Syracuse Town Hall. The township advisory board will meet at 7 p.m.