Panel still divided over fire issue

Officials will have to race to get the issues on the ballot.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Salem council again tried to find common ground and wound up clearly divided over its fire department.
Council, meeting as a committee of the whole Tuesday, split 4-3 to put a $1.5 mill levy for the fire department on the May ballot.
Voting in favor of the levy were Mary Lou Popa, Steven Andres, Gregory Oesch and Walt Bezeredi. They had voted to eliminate the city fire department and create the Quaker Community Fire District with Perry Township.
Voting against the levy were Clyde Brown, Justin Palmer and Earl A. Schory II, who last year defeated three other council members who voted for the fire district.
Watching in the audience were new President of Council Tod Mumpire, who was elected with the new members, and Perry Township Trustee Jerry Wolford.
Palmer had asked for the committee meeting but couldn't attend the session last week. Schory was ill and did not attend. Popa decided to call a second meeting to hear from Schory and Palmer.
Discussion
Brown had voted with Oesch and Andres to put a $1.5 million fire levy on the ballot. But Law Director Brooke Zellers said the vote did not pass under council's rules.
Bezeredi, who voted against the measure last week, wanted to place three issues before voters: A levy, an income tax increase, or a levy for the fire district. Bezeredi said that Zellers advised him that the plan wasn't feasible.
Palmer said he wanted to take time to study the city's finances.
Council, in moving toward the fire district, had said that it would save the city $600,000. Palmer said that asking voters for a levy now was "was setting up a levy to fail."
Schory wanted to know if the plan was to save the city fire department. Schory said the fire district is already the topic of a contract challenge, a lawsuit, and a contract with the township.
"Any effort should be cooperative," Schory said.
Andres said it had been impossible to get concessions from the fire department in past contract talks.
Brown said he had changed his mind about the fire levy.
But Palmer said that after two years of fighting over the issue, nothing has been settled.
Zellers cautioned that it may be a rush to get the fire levy on the ballot by Feb. 16. Council first must approve a resolution to get county officials to set the millage.
Council members also indicated they want Zellers to prepare another issue for the May ballot that, if approved by voters, would allow negotiations for lower electric rates.
wilkinson@vindy.com