Fire district isn't going away, city council says

City officials said that luring industries to town is not easy.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Council indicated that the Quaker Community Fire District isn't going away, despite the defeat of three members and the council president.
James Bonfert of Salem said Tuesday night, "After the Nov. 8 election, the people of Salem are kind of wondering what's going on with the fire department."
Bonfert said people had shown their feelings when voters replaced the officials.
Council had voted unanimously to eliminate its fire department and form a fire district with Perry Township, which would disband its department. A judge has temporarily stopped the district from becoming operational, although the fire district board was allowed to begin planning.
Bonfert asked when the fire district board was going to disband.
Councilman Steve Andres, who was not up for re-election, said, "I don't think there's any intention of disbanding anything."
Ways to save money
Andres said that he wants to explore ways to "provide services for less tax dollars." He added that he did not want to have to keep asking city residents for more money.
Bonfert suggested that council consider charging for fire department runs, such as providing protection when helicopters land at Salem Community Hospital.
"You've got a fire department that is working its butt off and not charging anything," Bonfert said.
Councilman A. Frederick Vogel, one of the defeated councilmen and the first member of the fire district board, said that the city has discussed payments with the hospital. Vogel said the city provides the fire department for the landings as a "courtesy."
Bonfert suggested city officials try to bring more industrial jobs to the city, but council members said that's hard to do.
Council briefly met in executive session with its lawyer to discuss the ongoing litigation over the fire district. Council took no action.
Temporary appropriations
In other developments, council:
UApproved temporary appropriations of $9 million for the first three months of 2006. That's about one-third of the city's annual budget.
UApproved the transfer of funds within departments to cover operations for the last weeks of this year. City Treasurer Robert Tullis told council that the city's revenue remains flat.
UApproved legislation that allows people to continue to put their trash in bags along the street, but cuts the time the bags can be out before collection from 48 hours to 24 hours.
UAgreed to sell four used police cars and two used firetrucks.
wilkinson@vindy.com