Council praises response to home explosion

By GRACE WYLER

gwyler@vindy.com

The Poland Village Council commended the Poland Village fire department’s efforts in fighting the blast at the house that exploded on Center Road at the council’s regular meeting Feb. 16.

Five firefighters were sent to the hospital with minor injuries from the Feb. 13 explosion. The firefighters were injured while looking for the gas leak that caused the explosion. At least one of the firefighters was trapped when the house exploded.

“It was a miracle that they didn’t get killed,” Council President Joe Mazur said. “As soon as they found out it was a gas leak, they said ‘Get out, get out’ and called for backup from New Middletown and Springfield.”

Mazur also praised Holy Family Church for providing assistance to the family that had been living in the house that exploded. He encouraged council members to attend a benefit dinner the church is hosting for the family Mar. 4.

The fire department is still investigating the explosion, Mazur said.

In other business, the council approved a form for temporary workers employed by the village. The form, drawn up by Village Solicitor Anthony D’Apolito, is designed to protect the village from unemployment claims made by part-time or seasonal employees of the village.

The form will make temporary workers acknowledge that they abandon any entitlement to unemployment benefits, D’Apolito said.

Poland Forest Board Chairman Bob Zedaker asked the council to approve $11,000 in funds to fix the Blue Bell Trail.

The Poland Forest Foundation has been patching flood damage on the trail for over eight years, Zedaker said. The foundation would like to start working on a permanent fix for the trail, which runs from the end of College Street to Walker Meadows, he said.

The project will cost $36,000. The Forest Foundation will provide $25,000.

“Normally the foundation would go 50-50 with the village,” Zedaker said. “But the foundation really wants the trail fixed.”

Council members did not mention the exploration of the possible secession of Poland Village from Poland Township.

The Village Council is looking into its options regarding secession and will likely discuss the matter at its meeting Mar. 2, D’Apolito said.