By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Township advisory board Monday, Sept. 14, approved the first reading of Township Trustee Julie Close’s proposed 2021 budget, with final approved slated for the Monday, Oct. 12, meeting.

Turkey Creek Township Trustee Julie Close presents her office’s 2021 proposed budget at the Monday, Sept. 14, meeting of the township advisory board. Photo by Ray Balogh

The $2,372,506 budget request consists of the following amounts:

• $20,000 for the rainy day fund

• $112,900 for general operations

• $86,500 for township assistance, also known as poor relief

• $15,500 for recreation

• $1,986,606 for fire territory general operating funds

• $151,000 for fire territory equipment replacement funds

The township assistance request includes $15,000 for housing; $55,000 for utilities; $8,000 for food; $1,000 for transportation; $5,000 for health care; and $2,500 for funerals, burials and cremations.

The recreation fund request consists of $15,000 for life guards and $500 in miscellaneous expenditures.

The advisory board and fire board both unanimously approved two requests by Fire Chief Mickey Scott:

• Renewal of the fire department’s health insurance plan, which expires Sept. 30, allowing for coverage of personnel with the current $2,500 deductible provision.

• Purchase of a set of turnout gear, not to exceed $3,000, for a new volunteer firefighter. The funds are available in the existing budget without the need for an additional appropriation.

After the meeting the board discussed scheduling a closed-door executive meeting to discuss a pending issue.

Fire Board

Scott presented his August report to the fire board:

• The department responded to 33 fire calls and 109 EMS calls during the month. The territory experienced an estimated $7,300 in property loss due to fires of a shed, landscape material and a vehicle, while department deployments saved the territory $495,000 in potential property damage.

• Department personnel completed 460 hours of fire and EMS training. Topics included inventory and operations of all equipment, apparatus and supplies; annual hose testing; physical agility tests; fire simulation training systems; pharmacology; environmental trauma and trauma resuscitation, including chest decompression, nasal intubation and cardiac pacing.

• Delivery of the department’s new fire engine is expected as early as this week.

• The department acquired a Titus 2 positive pressure ventilation fan, which will be taken on fire calls and used to remove smoke from areas in which firefighters are working.

• Both the department’s fire engines and aerial passed the annual pump test.

• The department will conduct a CPR class at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Station 1, 402 N. Huntington St., Syracuse. According to Scott, the class will be “conducted with some changes in place due to the COVID-19 precautions as well as limitations on the amount of attendees.” The class is free and anyone interested in attending may sign up by calling (574) 457-4100.

• Scott announced a benefit walk for the Hoosier Burn Camp, starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Station 1. “All activities for this event will be held outside the fire station due to the COVID-19 precautions,” said Scott. Anyone who would like to walk or donate may call or text Jonathan Piercy at (574) 202-6882.

• The department is seeking to fill a firefighter/paramedic position. Applications are available at www.syracusefd.com or in person at Station 1 or Station 2, 8138 E. McClintic Road, Syracuse.

The fire board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, in Syracuse Town Hall. The township advisory board will meet at 7 p.m.