Council to meet on fire district

The mayor said the fire district will continue to be a 'hot issue' this year.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Veteran council members have agreed to discuss the Quaker Community Fire District with the new council members who oppose it.
Councilwoman Mary Lou Popa, a district supporter, called for a committee-of-the-whole meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
New council members asked at the first council session this year if the two sides could find common ground on the issue.
Council and Perry Township officials agreed last year to eliminate their fire departments and form the district to save money.
Voters in November swept all four council incumbents from office. A judge temporarily has stopped the district from operating. City firefighters also have a pending complaint with the State Employment Relations Board that says the change came while they had a contract with the city.
Council members didn't comment on the pending meeting during Tuesday's regular session. With council veteran Steven Andres absent, the old and new councilmen unanimously passed resolutions praising the council members who were defeated.
During his annual state-of-the-city speech, Mayor Larry D. DeJane said, "The fire district continued to be the hottest topic for 2005 ... and it appears that it will continue to be a hot issue this year."
What voters approved
Justin Palmer, one of the newly elected council members, had gathered signatures to put two issues on the ballot in 2004. Voters overwhelming approved the issues that required council to put proposed fire department changes back on the ballot. Council repealed the issues.
DeJane said, "The voters, to whom we are responsible, overwhelmingly told us from the voting booth they did not want the fire department changed to a fire district."
Palmer said he had told Popa in advance he could not attend Thursday's session because of another commitment, but she called the session anyway.
The fire agreement with Perry includes an agreement not to annex more township land for 12 years. DeJane said the agreement will "impact the city well beyond that time."
The mayor said annexations result in construction and increased income and property taxes at no cost to the city. "Yes, 12 years down the road may prove to be a disaster," DeJane said.
wilkinson@vindy.com