Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board President Dennis Darr calls a monthly board meeting to order by leading the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance. Photo by Ray Balogh.

By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

TURKEY CREEK — Dennis Darr, president of the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board, took some time during his review of 2021 to highlight the importance of Mickey Scott, the territory’s fire chief.

Chronicling Scott’s work during the past year, Darr commented, “We would be in a world of hurt without Mickey.”

In 2021 the fire department took several steps under Scott’s 20-year equipment replacement and upgrade program to keep the department in optimal shape for service to the community.

The department improved its inventory of equipment by purchasing personal SCBA regulators, rescue and ventilation saws and blades, radios and lapel microphones, rapid intervention team packs and thermal imaging cameras.

Darr cited one of the most significant highlights as “dealing with the county to come up with almost $200,000 for new radios.”

The funds were derived from a $15 million grant given last spring to Kosciusko County through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Township Trustee Julie Close was designated by law as the authorized grant applicant, and explained the need for the purchase in the application.

“The county is working to move from a VHF communications system, which will no longer be supported after July 1, 2022, to the 700MHz communications system countywide.

“The current mobile devices are a mix of antiquated VHF and 800 MHz devices with severely inadequate coverage, leading to unserved and underserved parts of the county on a public safety basis,” she wrote.

“It is imperative that first responders have the capability to have clear two-way communications with the dispatch center, relay the condition of a patient or call in additional resources needed at an emergency scene.”

With the large ticket items out of the way, the township is “focusing on smaller things now, like replacing hoses and connections,” Darr said.

“Replacement is overdue and we’ll continue to keep up with them. If we stick to Mickey’s plan, and don’t let up or leave out any parts, we’ll have it pretty good.”

The township also purchased a software system for Close’s office to “better monitor applicant visits and maintain applicant records” and approved the implementation of a three-year capital improvement plan, review of which is currently pending with the state.

The board meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month at Syracuse Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St.