New Turkey Creek Firefighter/EMT Sworn In
SYRACUSE — The first order of business for the Turkey Creek fire board Monday, Feb. 10, was swearing in Layne Neal as the department’s newest firefighter/EMT.
Township attorney Andrew Grossnickle administered the oath and Layne’s father, Lamont, took the honor of placing the official pin on Layne’s collar.
In other action, the fire and township advisory boards unanimously approved Fire Chief Mickey Scott’s request to sell the department’s 2016 ambulance, which was heavily damaged in a traffic accident in August.
“There is a company in Ohio interested in purchasing the ambulance for $4,000 and they will pick it up at the Braun Ambulance facility in Van Wert,” reported Scott. “They want it for the engine and transmission.”
The department previously received $61,460 from its insurance company for the damages, Scott said.
Scott also said he had received citizen inquiries whether smoke detectors are required in rental properties. Yes, he said, specifically citing Indiana Code 22-11-18-3.5:
“Each owner or the manager or rental agent of the owner is responsible for:
“(1) the installation of a required smoke detector; and
“(2) the replacement and repair of a smoke detector within seven working days after the owner, manager or rental agent is given written notification of the need to replace or repair the smoke detector.”
“We are asking the owners of dwellings within our community have operational smoke detectors in their dwelling, whether the dwelling is owned by them or is a rental property,” said Scott.
“Everyone should have these potentially life saving smoke detectors in place and operational at all times, regardless where you live. If you are a homeowner and cannot afford to purchase a smoke detector, please contact us and we can provide a smoke detector to you.”
The fire department’s phone number is (574) 457-4100.
Fire Board
Scott presented his January report:
• After all 2019 invoices were paid, the department used 95.11% of last year’s budget allocations.
• The department responded to 16 fire calls and 91 EMS calls in January. The territory suffered no property loss from fire during the month.
• Fire and EMS personnel completed 428 hours of training. Topics included equipment and apparatus inspections and operational checks, winter operation of fire ground tactics and safety, responding to pipeline emergencies, attic fires, bloodborne pathogens, response to clandestine laboratories, intubation airway skills and spinal cord injury treatment and complications.
• The department conducted a public CPR class Wednesday, Jan. 29, for 12 participants. The next class is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at Fire Station 1, 402 N. Huntington St., Syracuse. Call (574) 457-4100 to sign up for the class.
Township Board
Township Trustee Julie Close presented the December and January financial reports. The township transferred $815,062 to the Turkey Creek Fire Territory in December. The funds included encumbered funds not used during the fiscal year.
The 2019 totals showed the township collected $718,983 in property taxes and $59,958 in license excise fees.
In January, Close’s office disbursed $1,550 for rent assistance, $2,819.81 in utilities and $397.01 for food vouchers.
Grossnickle reported he had title searches completed on two lakeside properties that were the subject of some citizen disputes. The searches revealed the township owns both properties, which were donated “many years ago.”
He also researched two parcels in or bordering Cable Cemetery. The smaller of the two parcels, only a few feet wide, has no encumbrances and Grossnickle concluded, “we can move forward with the transfer of that property to the township.”
The other parcel, almost 2/3 of an acre, has an encumbrance for a line of credit with a local bank.
Grossnickle said he will work with the bank and the property owner to effect the transfer of that parcel to the township.
The fire board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, March 9, in Syracuse Town Hall. The township advisory board will meet at 7 p.m.