Township Talk - August 1
New Police Officers
Five experienced police officers, Matthew Nicely, Matthew Johnson, Matthew Grant, Daniel Renda, and Leah Fahrer were sworn in at the July 11 special meeting of the Sylvania Township Board of Trustees by Sylvania Township Police Chief Paul Long. The chief said that in addition to the five new officers, there is still a need to hire one more person because of vacancies in the department. The chief’s request to certify the eligibility of an additional candidate, Rachal Hamilton, was approved by the trustees. She will be hired early in the fall.
Zoning News
Sylvania Township Planning & Zoning Manager Daryl Graus requested authorization to have six properties in the Township abated for high grass and/or debris on the property. If the property owner does not correct the violation themselves within seven days, the Township will have it abated and the cost of the service billed to the property owner.
Fire Department Update
The Sylvania Township Fire Chief Mike Ramm’s recommendation to hire Thomas Yunker, Jr. to fill one of the three vacancies in the Township Fire Department was authorized by the Sylvania Township Trustees.
Also at the July 11 Board of Township Trustees meeting, Ramm was authorized by trustees to purchase battery-operated rescue tools from Howell Rescue Systems for $115, 040. According to the chief, these tools are more ergonomic and user-friendly. In addition, they are adaptable to more situations, less cumbersome in both size and weight and require less maintenance compared to the hydraulic rescue tools they will replace. The fire department currently uses a combination of Genesis hydraulic rescue tools and Genesis 24v battery-operated rescue tools for incidents involving patient extractions.
The chief was also authorized to purchase structural firefighting protective jackets and pants from Atlantic Emergency Solutions. The fire department budgets each fiscal year to replace at least 12 sets of aging ensembles in order to remain compliant with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Firefighting and Proximity Firefighting, which recommends retiring equipment more than 10 years old.
Chief Ramm noted that the fire department provides two complete sets of personal protective equipment to each sworn member of the department for firefighting operations.
TOWNSHIP BRUSH PICK-UP
A one-time-only pickup to collect storm-damaged brush caused by the July 26 severe thunderstorm starts Monday, July 31. ONLY storm-damaged brush needs to be placed along the edge of the roadway. Brush should NOT exceed 6 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter. DO NOT PLACE in bags or piles in the roadway or gutter areas. Tree removal, lot clearing, and grass clippings material are prohibited.