Canfield, Unity townships making fire truck deal

EAST PALESTINE — Unity Township trustees seek to put into writing a verbal agreement they’ve made to buy a fire truck from Canfield Township.

Essentially the verbal agreement calls for Unity to buy the 1986 pump truck from Canfield for $20,000. But Unity will not take ownership of the truck for a few more months to allow Canfield to use the vehicle until Canfield’s aerial ladder truck is repaired.

Unity officials said they are in the process of putting the agreement in writing and expect Canfield to vote on the contract later this month. Unity trustees intend to vote on the matter in June.

The purchase is part of the township’s ongoing effort to establish its own volunteer fire department. The township now pays New Waterford and East Palestine each $30,000 a year for fire protection.

Previously fire protection was provided by a private fire department in Unity. However, after existing for nearly 40 years that department — Unity Volunteer Fire Department Inc. — disbanded in 2003. The company donated its fire house to the township.

The trustees said they are hoping to get a township-owned fire department established to help provide the northern areas of the township with more fire protection coverage.