Officials seeking support for levies aiding police, fire

Each levy would generate about $96,000 a year.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
PETERSBURG -- Springfield Township's police and fire chiefs appealed to about 25 residents who attended an informational meeting Monday at Fire Station 22 here to approve levies that will be on the November ballot.
Police and fire departments each have a 1-mill, five-year levy on the ballot. Each would cost the owner of a $75,000 home $75 in additional taxes per year. Each mill would bring in $96,000 per year, officials said.
Police Chief Matthew Mohn said that if the police levy passes, he would like to hire an additional full-time officer to join the department's six full-time and four part-timers. He pointed out that despite explosive growth in Springfield Township, only one additional full-time officer has been added over the last 13 years. With the growth, which he said shows no sign of slowing down, comes new problems, including a large increase in the number of drug cases involving OxyContin, crack cocaine and heroin.
Comparison
As a comparison, he pointed out that neighboring New Middletown, with three square miles, has three full-time officers while Springfield Township with 36 square miles has only six. He said he would like to expand the part-time detective position to full time; create a juvenile diversion program that would deal with minor juvenile crime in the township instead of sending it to county juvenile court; start a canine unit for narcotics and rescue; expand the grant-funded DARE drug prevention program in the schools; and upgrade police training to meet state mandates.
In addition, Mohn said he would like to replace aging police cruisers. He has five marked patrol cars, ranging from a 1998 with 171,985 miles to a 2003 with 46,547 miles. Springfield Township Trustee Jim Holleran, who attended the meeting, concurred, saying that the township has to take money from the general fund to support the police department.
Fire Chief Brian Hughes said the fire levy would make it possible to replace aging fire vehicles and ambulances. If the levy is passed, a fire engine could be replaced every five years, an ambulance every five to seven, a rescue truck every 10 and a tanker truck every 20 years.
The department has four fire engines, including two 1985 vehicles, a 1991 and a 1999; two ambulances including a 2001 and a 2005 model; three light rescue vehicles including two 2003 vehicles and a 1992, which is out of service; and a 1991 tanker.
Hughes said fire trucks cost $300,000 to replace and ambulances run between $80,000 and $130,000.
The meeting Monday was the second of three informational meetings. The last is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 3 at Fire Station 21, 10720 Struthers Road, New Middletown.