CENTERBURG — Peter Dickerson’s desire to talk about changes in the Central Ohio Joint fire District sparked a reaction at the Centerburg Village Council meeting on Monday.
The COJFD provides fire and EMS coverage to Hilliar and Milford townships and the village.
Dickerson, a Milford Township trustee, told council a Hillier township trustee approached him and asked Dickerson’s thoughts about joining the Hartford Fire Department if COFJD Chief Mark McCann was not removed.
“We’re trying to put together something so we know what’s going on,” Dickerson said. “If that’s what’s going on, we need to know.”
Dickerson requested meeting minutes from the village, Hilliar Township, the COJFD Fire Board, and Hartford to determine what each entity is thinking.
“We know it takes two entities with problems to dissolve the district, and we just want to know where the village stands,” he said. “Milford is okay with the department.”
At the April 4 meeting, Hilliar Township Trustees Jason Rogers and Gary Ross told council the township planned a no-confidence vote in McCann. The vote was not related to safety services but to the way McCann enforces fire code regulations.
Council President Tom Stewart said he has heard nothing other than Hilliar’s planned no-confidence vote and a list of concerns from Damascus Catholic school camp and Centerburg Mayor Greg Sands. Stewart said that he thought the school and mayor were satisfied with the answers to their concerns.
“I have had a lot of calls, and they are not happy. I have told Mark what he needs to change. It boils down to personalities,” Sands said, adding that the problems relate primarily to commercial businesses.
Sands said that if the county commissioners establish a building code, it could change a lot of the issues.
“If the county puts in a code, the fire department still has to review it,” Stewart said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s Chief McCann or Chief ‘Smith.’ I am sure the chief is following those rules as best he can.
“It does not matter who’s going to be here, it’s going to be the same thing.”
Sands said he did not disagree, but noted that if information is not given to the public in a way they can understand, there will be confrontation with the public.
Dickerson pointed out that the county can establish a code, but the fire department will still be involved with commercial buildings.
“The buildings in Centerburg are very old. They have to be brought up to code. Knox Community Hospital complained, but they built here anyway,” Stewart said.
Alluding to the KCH complaint, McCann said the hospital never notified the department of its plans to build the 17,000-square-foot medical building and that he learned about it by accident.
McCann said he called the KCH architect for drawings and after looking at them, realized he was not qualified to make a determination. He sent the drawings to two qualified inspectors and one engineer, and all three said the parking lot was not done correctly.
“We conceded a tremendous amount of fire code to make that place able to expand and exist,” he said. “There is a process in place to figure things out. I want to make it as easy as possible.
“I will always go to a third party for a decision,” he continued. “My wheelhouse is the fire code; my wheelhouse is not commercial buildings.”
“I know what people tell me on the telephone. I told you what to do,” Sands responded, adding that he feels McCann has either excused or ignored individuals’ concerns. “Some of the things you are asking for are unreasonable. It doesn’t mean they are not right, but it’s unreasonable.”
Stewart encouraged council members, township trustees, and residents to attend the next fire board meeting on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. The board typically meets in the Hilliar Township house. Stewart encouraged those interested in attending to verify the location as the meeting may move to a larger venue to accommodate potential attendees.
In its legislative session, council took the following actions:
• Adopted an ordinance authorizing payment for non-council members of the sidewalk and revitalization committees.
• Gave a second reading to an ordinance authorizing the village to acquire health insurance for full-time employees.
• Passed emergency legislation creating a fund to accept OneOhio opioid settlement money.
• Passed emergency legislation accepting OneOhio opioid settlement money.
• Waived the three readings and approved amending the estimated resources for the village to account for $117,053.38 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money and $357.30 in OneOhio opioid settlement money.
• Waived the three readings and approved appropriating the $117,053.38 in ARPA money and $357.30 in OneOhio money.
• Held an executive session to discuss personnel.
Reports
Joe Hardin, village administrator: The radar speed sign arrived and is in use. Contracts for Phase 2 on South Hartford have been sent out; Hardin will work to create a construction schedule.
Kyle Stroh, village solicitor: Nothing other than the report emailed to council. Stroh did note that in other communities there usually is a process for reviewing commercial plans before construction begins.
Shawna Humes, fiscal officer: Non-filing tax letters went to 356 residents.
Mayor Sands, Regional Planning Commission: Final plat was approved for Courtyards at Table Rock. Lots decreased from 12 to 11, all 2 acres in size. Ten of the 11 will required above-ground septic systems. He noted that Commissioner Thom Collier said the county is exploring a residential building code.
Chief Mark McCann, COJFD: The department received a grain bin safety award for training and equipment. COJFD was one of 1,800 nominated, 58 chosen, and one of five departments in Ohio. Also received a $75,000 grant to install an exhaust system in the engine bay. South Bloomfield wants to join COJFD; details are being worked out.
Councilwoman Saundra Dove, Revitalization Committee: Poggemeyer Design Group will meet with ODOT to see why the village did not get the TAP grant. Village has $87,725 earmarked for a project and will receive another $40,000 next year. Project must be in place by 2023. Village businesses have received $60,265 from the Business Facade Grant administered by the Area Development Foundation.
Councilman Dave Beck, Sidewalk Committee: Waiting on the return of one survey. Information will be tabulated and decisions made as to which sidewalks get priority.
