SIDNEY — An update on the 2019 fire and EMS contracts with surrounding townships was presented Monday night to the Sidney City Council during its workshop session.
Sidney Fire Chief Brad Jones told council contract amounts to be paid by the township are Clinton: EMS, $26,369, and fire, $36,176; Orange: EMS, $7,198, and fire, $9,993; Franklin: fire, $9,417; Washington, EMS, $1.
The dollar values reflect a 3 percent increase over the 2018 contracts (except for Washington Township). In Washington Township, Sidney covers a section of Interstate 75 that is less than a mile long, Jones said. The only access to the section in Shelby County is from Sidney.
Jones also explained the mutual-aid agreements Sidney has with other departments, which are separate from the township fire/EMS contracts. He said other departments provide services when needed at emergencies and Sidney does the same for other departments. No payments are involved for mutual aid.
Council member Darryl Thurber asked Jones what would happen if the department responded to a call in the south part of Orange Township, the southern most part of its coverage area, a call in the north part Franklin Township, the northern most part of its coverage area, and then received two calls from the Clinton Township area, which mostly is comprised of the city of Sidney. Jones confessed that their resources would likely be depleted. Upon Jones’ response, Thurber and Council member Ed Hamaker noted the need for a third fire station.
A resolution on the contracts will be considered by council at its Oct. 8 meeting.
In other business, council received a presentation on the city’s snow removal policy. Street Manager Brian Green told council due to the mild winters over the last three years, the city has used less than average amounts of salt. He said prices have come down each year from its peak price in 2015. This year, however, prices have increased some from $48.22 per ton in 2017 to $64.93 per ton for 2018. Green said salt supplies are available for future purchase.
Currently the city has approximately 400 tons of salt on site, with an additional 1,350 tons ordered from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to be delivered. Sidney is under contract for 2,000 tons of salt this year.
Green said the city’s average annual salt usage is 1,100 tons over the last 10 years. Sidney’s salt dome is complete and operational. It has a capacity of approximately 2,000 tons, he said, and will be filled with remaining monies from this year and next year’s budget monies.
He told council the city’s annual Snow Plow and Transit Roadeo, which helps give drivers a refresher before the winter season begins, will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25.
Barbara Dulworth, community development director, shared a review of the upcoming Zoning Board/Planning Commission Agenda for Monday, Oct. 15. City Manager Mark Cundiff reviewed the prospective City Council Agenda items for the next 30 days.
During council member’s comments, Council member Steve Wagner shared that during last weekend’s trap-neuter-release clinic, they had a full clinic in which 33 cats were captured. He said 15 of those cats were collected from one location. The final clinic of the year will be held in December.
Council also went into an executive session to prepare for pending or imminent court action. No action was taking by council when members emerged from the session.
