SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Fire Board Monday, Aug. 13, approved the fire territory’s 2019 operations and equipment replacement budgets and the winning bid for renovations to the two fire stations.

Turkey Creek Fire Board members Larry Martindale, left, Corky Wong, John Heckaman and Dennis Darr. (Photo by Ray Balogh)

The board unanimously approved Fire Chief Mickey Scott’s requested $1,822,092 for operations and $765,000 for equipment replacement. The township and Syracuse Town Council had already approved the amounts.

The board also unanimously approved a construction bid request for $508,000 for renovations to the territory’s fire stations. The contract was awarded to Milestone Construction of Syracuse.

Included in the motion was a 5 percent contingency amount for possible project overruns. “That is customary in the industry,” said Scott.

Scott presented his monthly report, which included:

• With the year more than half elapsed, the department has expended only 41 percent of its 2018 budget.

• The department responded to 24 fire calls and 108 EMS calls in July, The territory experienced $37,000 in property loss from two structure fires and two vehicle fires. Department response saved $280,000 in property.

• Department personnel underwent 321.75 hours of fire and EMS training in July. Topics included burn trauma patients, extremity fractures, abdominal injuries, fireworks safety, truck and equipment operational checks, triage, SCBA drills, community interaction and public relations.

• All territory outdoor warning sirens passed the monthly test conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3.

Scott also reported, “We believe CSX will be closing the railroad crossings in our area in the near future, as new rails have been delivered in our area.

“We are working on obtaining information from CSX on dates and times when the various railroad crossings will be closed so we can plan our emergency responses according to providing the best possible response time to an emergency situation,” he said.

Scott issued a seasonal reminder to the public.

“We would like to remind everyone the Wawasee schools will resume classes Wednesday, Aug. 15,” he said. “We are requesting motorists be aware there will be more traffic and children present in and nearby the streets and roadways.

“We ask that motorists plan accordingly and obey the traffic laws when encountering school buses and children crossing the roadways so everyone can get to and from school safely.

“People don’t realize if we are running on an emergency call, even with lights and sirens, and the arm comes out on a school bus, we have to stop, too. So do the police.”

The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, in Syracuse Town Hall.