Officials to deliver petitions involving fire district

SALEM -- The city will deliver petitions to the Columbiana County Board of Elections on Thursday that could block efforts to create a fire district with Perry Township.
Justin Palmer of Salem, a college student heading the ballot initiative, had filed petitions with city Auditor James Armeni to allow public inspection of the ballot initiative for 10 days. Armeni said last week he thought that meant 10 working days, much longer than 10 calendar days.
Barb Hasson, the chief deputy auditor, said the elections board had advised the city that the inspection period was for 10 calendar days.
Past and current firefighters gathered signatures to put two issues on the ballot. One would bar the city from creating or joining a fire district without a public vote. The other would bar the city from eliminating the fire department without a public vote.
City officials say creating a fire district would cut costs. But they are also looking at ways to increase revenue including a fire levy or an income tax increase.