Turkey Creek Boards Approve Equipment Expenditures
By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews
SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek fire and township boards Monday, Jan. 11, approved Fire Chief Mickey Scott’s request to purchase three nitrous oxide units and two hydrant valves to enhance the department’s response and fire suppression capabilities.
The Nitronox field units deliver a mixture of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” and oxygen to act as a painkiller and sedative for trauma victims.
The hydrant valves are designed to boost water pressure to more quickly fill tankers and replace the pressure lost by deploying lengthy fire hoses.
The boards also appointed Corky Wong to serve as the at-large member of the fire board and Andrew Grossnickle to continue serving as township attorney for 2021.
Fire Board
Scott issued his December report:
• The department responded to 16 fire calls and 101 EMS calls during the month. During 2020 there were 221 fire runs and 1,123 EMS runs, for a total of 1,344 emergency responses. The territory experienced $138,900 in property damage during the year and the department saved an estimated $1,123,200 worth of property through its firefighting efforts.
• Department personnel completed 906 hours of fire and EMS training in December.
• The department received a $20,000 CARES Act payment from the town of Syracuse for “some of the expenses incurred by our department as a result of COVID-19,” reported Scott.
Township Board
Township Trustee Julie Close presented her office’s year-end financial report:
• During December, the office disbursed poor relief of $1,300 in rent, $2,958.64 in utilities and $300 in food.
• The trustee made a one-time annual salary payment to Dennis Darr, Bill Dixon and John Heckaman for their service on the township advisory board.
• During the year, the township transferred to the fire territory $1,546,102.13 for general funds and $465,330.40 for equipment repair, purchase and replacement.
Scott issued a year-end statement to both boards:
“Even though 2020 was an extraordinary year that caused us to adapt and make changes to our normal operations, the members of our department adapted, banded together and overcame these challenges.
“We sincerely appreciate all the support we have received and continue to receive from our community during these challenging times. We have all worked together to provide the services our community expects from us in the most effective and efficient way possible.
“We look forward to working with the boards, the town council and our community in 2021 to provide exceptional emergency services to our community and overcome the challenges we will continue to face.”
The fire board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, in Syracuse Town Hall. The township advisory board will meet at 7 p.m.