Salem puts an end to fire district

A councilman said rumors that he may resign from council are true.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

SALEM — The Quaker Community Fire District came to its end Tuesday with no comments by city council.

But after the meeting, Councilman Justin Palmer, who fought the district as a citizen and was elected to council in backlash against it, said, “It’s about time.”

Palmer indicated that council can now direct its attention to new matters. “The city has serious issues it needs to address,” he said.

Those issues include economic development and a tight budget.

Councilman Earl A. Schory II, who was also elected in backlash to the district, said, “It’s over and done.”

Schory added, “It didn’t go out with much of a bang.”

Council in 2005 voted to save money by creating the fire district with Perry Township during contract talks with the city fire department.

Voters approved measures created by Palmer and city firefighters that would have required public votes on any ordinances that would have created the district. Council then repealed them.

The district was formed, but the State Employment Relations Board ruled the city couldn’t eliminate the city fire department that had a contract with the city. A judge prevented the district, which had picked members, from operating.

Schory, a lawyer, wanted to repeal the fire district ordinances Tuesday to prevent any future legal problems.

All the council members voted in favor of repealing the ordinances, with the exception of Greg Oesch, who was absent.

Oesch withdrew from the council races. The remaining three members who enacted the district were defeated in the primary.

In another issue, Schory told council that rumors that he may resign temporarily from council are true.

Schory previously served as a councilman and city law director. He underwent intestinal surgery in 1995, and has had recurring illnesses.

He said he plans to retire from council and then get reappointed to get health benefits from the Public Employees Retirement System. The state benefits would cost $40 a month instead of the more than $1,000 a month he is privately paying now.

Schory, a Democrat, missed a deadline and ran as an independent candidate. He said if he leaves now, council could appoint someone to replace him permanently. If he waits until 2008 to retire, he said, there would be new members on council who may consider different options for him to resign and then be reappointed.

wilkinson@vindy.com