WEATHERSFIELD TOWNSHIP Fire levy group to hold public meetings

If approved, levy funds would be used to hire three part-time firefighters.
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Weathersfield Township Fire Levy Committee will have informational meetings on the 1.5-mill permanent fire levy at the township's three fire stations at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The fire levy will generate $232,000 annually. Question-and-answer periods will be held for residents attending.
The Tuesday meeting will be at the Mineral Ridge Fire Station, Station 41, state Route 46; the Wednesday meeting at the McKinley Heights fire station, Station 40, at the corner of Tibbetts-Wick Road and Gardenland Avenue, McKinley Heights; the Thursday meeting at the West Park fire station, Station 42, Niles.
The fire levy, if approved, would provide funds to hire three part-time firefighters who would be first responders to daytime fires. The firefighters would work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily on a part-time basis.
The township has 43 volunteer firefighters who respond to fires when they are not working their regular jobs. The part-timers to be hired also would maintain fire hydrants and perform fire inspections.
Replacing equipment
In addition, the fire levy would reinstate an equipment replacement program.
The fire levy committee includes fire Chief Randy Pugh, chairman, and assistant Chief Kenneth Boring, treasurer. Pugh will explain details about the fire levy at the meetings.
The township has three fire levies in place for a total of 2.7 mills. One mill generates an estimated $155,000 in revenue for the township. All of the current fire levies are permanent measures. A 0.7-mill levy was passed in November 1983; a 1-mill measure was passed in November 1984; and another 1-mill measure was passed in 1986.