Thursday, October 27, 2005
Howland Fire Department has been brought up to full strength.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- Township trustees have addressed the needs of the safety forces.
Trustees hired two full-time firefighters/paramedics Wednesday, bringing the department to full strength with 25 full-time employees.
Firefighters Theodore Luman and Brian Pugh will each begin work Tuesday at a starting salary of $41,610. They have both been part-time firefighters.
Township administrator Darlene St. George said the department has been short-handed with one of the two vacancies open for about a year.
In other business, trustees agreed to buy a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer from Greenwood Chevrolet Inc. for $22,109.
It was the lowest of three quotes the township received, the highest being $23,500 from Courtesy Chevrolet.
The vehicle will be driven by Police Chief Paul Monroe. Monroe was involved in an accident that demolished the township vehicle assigned to him. St. George said the mishap was not Monroe's fault.
Recycling contract
Trustees also entered into a contract with the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District to continue providing recycling drop-off containers.
The containers will be located behind the main fire station, 169 Niles-Cortland Road, and behind the Bolindale fire station, 3403 Ridge Road.
In addition, trustees moved to a third and final reading a resolution that will upgrade regulations governing storm-water discharge systems.
The regulations are designed to assure storm sewers are properly engineered so water doesn't back up, causing flooding in developments.
If approved, the regulations will allow the township to issue stop-work orders if a system is being installed incorrectly. The township must now get such an order from court before stopping construction.
Pitch for levy
During the meeting, Robert Kubiak, executive director of Trumbull County Children Services, pitched for passage of county Issue 6. The 0.8-mill, 10-year replacement levy will appear on the Nov. 8 general-election ballot.
Kubiak said it will cost the owner of a $90,000 to $100,000 home about $1.25 per month. The money will be used to maintain professional standards, better serve children with emotional problems, establish more foster homes for older children and help remodel the agency residential facilities.
The agency handles child abuse and neglect cases and receives 200 reports per month. In 2004, it handled about 5,000 cases, Kubiak said.
yovich@vindy.com