The Official Newsletter of Northfield Center Township Trustee Paul G. Buescher: FIRE DEPT. RESURRECTION POLL RESULTS!

TRUSTEEBUESCHER@AOL.COM

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF NORTHFIELD CENTER TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE PAUL G. BUESCHER:
FIRE DEPT. RESURRECTION POLL RESULTS!
~ KEEPING NCT RESIDENTS INFORMED SINCE 2005 ~
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#451    FRIDAY APRIL 08, 2016

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POLL RESULTS

To resurrect the NCFD, would you be willing to vote FOR or AGAINST a 6-mill FIRE levy?

63.7% FOR             36.3% AGAINST
163 VOTES                  93 VOTES

This poll was conducted from April 4, 2016 to April 7, 2016 via email.  There were 256 total ‘votes’ submitted.  Approximately 21 additional ‘votes’ were discarded due to lack of required names and/or addresses.

These final results appear to give reasonable cause to placing a levy on the August ballot depending on the consensus of the Board of Trustees.  The levy would be a replacement 6-mills, which is an additional 4-mills to the current 2-mill levy.  The full information contained in the poll returns will be made available to the news media for viewing only for authentication purposes.

I know that there are many questions that have been asked and the answers will be forthcoming as we work our way through this issue.  There will be public meetings to openly discuss everything and I will keep you informed through this newsletter.  Stay tuned!

In the meantime, the following are the many comments from YOU that accompanied your ‘votes’.  I want to thank all of you for participating in this poll!

YOUR COMMENTS ON THE POLL

I will not agree with paying more than 3 times what we pay
If we have to go in with mascondia  I guess that is the way it will be

I am FOR the levy to bring in our own fire dept.

I am submitting my vote for “AGAINST”.
To clarify, I am not against re-forming the NCFD district but I feel I need more information. The “other aforementioned options” as mentioned need investigated and presented to the residents to make a better educated decision.

Paul, I think we should look at all the options first, that’s why I’m voting No

2 votes for yes to go ahead on the levy in my household. As a resident I believe the services are top notch and would decline by contracting out to another city.

Hello Paul, while we are not overly excited about having to contract with another community, we can not vote to resurrect the NCFD.  I am a retiree, on a fixed income and could no way afford, per your example, a $500-$600 per year assessment.  Sorry Paul, but, we vote  “NO”.

It is hard to  give an accurate vote without knowing a comparative cost/benefits analysis of other options, including, besides costs, what would happen to response times, numbers of available firefighters/paramedics, etc. .It would seem that the best approach would be to explore all reasonable options before making the decision (which I guess is what you are doing already.) Also, if we do have our own NCFD, since it would be covering a smaller area and fewer homes and presumably fewer calls, would we still need the same contingent of firefighters and paramedics?  Still, I would rather have a couple of extra employees than be caught short-handed when disaster struck.  Thus, the vote would be FOR the levy, if (and only if) it proves  to be in the best interest of residents of the township after all viable options are considered..

Our 2 votes are for a levy but we would like the numbers crunched a little bid to see if you could come up with a lower mill.

(2) no votes or Against the 6 mil fire levy.  I basing this solely on cost, and my belief that NFCT could not afford future costs related to buying or replacing aging fire apparatus, etc.  We need a partner.  I would consider a yes vote more strongly if I knew how our average calls for service compared to the rates of other cities around us.  I mean, if NFCT has a ton of squad (FD) calls compared to Sagamore, Brecksville, Walton Hills, then one could make a better case for our need to have our own FD.  (please don’t use my name for comments).  I strongly feel that this area needs a local FD though.

We prefer a joint Fire Department with Macedonia, Sagamore Hills and even adding  Northfield Village to make this a Nordonia Fire Department to match our school district.  This presents as opportunity to save on administrative costs and combine our resources, talent and experience.

Sounds similar to the forced increase for retaining the Sheriff’s Department when we were basically given no other concrete options.

I would definitely vote AGAINST it.  First it would be a 6 mill levy, then another mill, and another 2 mills…  The township would become just like the school district, forcing levies down our throats, and threatening cuts if we don’t comply with the elected officials’ wishes.  If Macedonia offered to take us in, then go for it.  In order to preserve the current population, and maintain the ability for them to continue to live here, then steps must be taken to control the spending of our township.

I would vote “yes”.  But it would seem better if all the communities would join together to form one fire district, and consolidate equipment, manpower, buildings, which now are duplicated.  Each community would have equal say in the running of the fire department.  We have the Nordonia schools, why couldn’t we have the Nordonia fire department?

Please refer below to my “vote” in favor of retaining our NCFD.  I was not sure where to fill out my name and address, so I added it below my affirmative vote.  If I need to redo this survey, please let me know.
Thank you for your continued interest in this matter.

thanks I hope things work out. I really don’t want to pay $600 a year but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Thanks again…

Currently, my vote is AGAINST a 6-mill replacement levy.   However, I might reconsider my vote & VOTE for a levy if the response time should NCT  join forces with another community is too long and the # of crew available at any given moment is too small.  My biggest concerns in losing NCT’s FD is # OF CREW AVAILABLE and RESPONSE TIME.  If Macedonia has a crew of 2 at a barn somewhere in Sagamore, is that enough to fight a fire?  I thought the minimum was three to actively go into a structure. How much time would elapse before mutual aid arrived?  If Macedonia has a crew of 2 and someone is having an active heart attack, are 2 crew enough to respond?  Can one person drive & the other person handle the heart attack alone in the back of the squad?  I don’t want to have a heart attack & not have enough crew onsite to help me.  I wouldn’t want my house to be on fire & have to wait for mutual aid to arrive (later) before the inside of my home is protected.  NCT’s FD is great — the best thing about them is they are HERE in OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WE NEED THEM.

As much as I’ve always admired & appreciated NCFD, economically it really makes more sense to consolidate services across the school district communities, especially since there has always been cooperation in the form of mutual aid for as long as I can remember. I have always supported the fire department levies, but this increase is a bit more than I am comfortable with in light of the fact that my husband & I are now both retired. So our votes would have to be AGAINST.

I would go from less than $100.00 per year to probably over $500.00 per year.  I am a single parent with a child going to college next year.  I could not possibly vote for an increase of this magnitude.

Even though it would be a significant increase in taxes, we would vote to have the NCFD reinstated. That way we won’t have to go through this again.

I am 49% for, but 51% against – so i have to go with against.  the cost is the issue.  my taxes right now are SO high- and the services i receive for the amount i already pay do not coincide.
If i could remove and replace another tax that i pay with the fire levy- my answer would be for – but i am topped out on property tax.  Actually it all boils down to do i feel my tax dollars are being spent wisely, judiciously without waste and bloat? The answer to that is, no.   When I know of retired of municipal workers/school workers collecting large pensions while now working a second job or back at the same place – i feel they’re working the system and i am paying for it.  sorry for the rant, i feel bad about my against vote….

With the information I have today,  and disappointment  in one surrounding community,  I vote against a six mill levy as proposed.  I also have great respect for our township fire department, and hope perhaps another village or township would consider or reconsider partnering with us.  My concerns voting against the levy are … the minimum amount to resurrect our NCFD includes what ?
How much Fire District equipment stays in our township? What are the projected fire department capital costs for the next ten years?  Will the unionizing of our fire department impact the resurrection costs.

I vote against ONLY because I do not want to see increases for any/all of us IF possible.  The preference would be for us (Northfield Center) to be the “contract holders” or regional headquarters of a combined, cost efficient fire district with no loss to our firemen!!  Due to the actions of the Sagamore Trustees, I want nothing to do with Sagamore, or Macedonia. That leaves  joining with our financially sound  neighbor, Northfield Village.

Hello Paul  We both VOTE to “”KEEP:  our Fire Department,,  And support a New Tax Levy..  We also need to start accepting EMT’s , and more local Residents, like the Fire Dept, use to be…many Depts out there run with basic EMT’s squads ,  I feel there are people out there that want to make the Dept. all Paramedics and look down on EMT’s  stop the ATTITUIDE..Get back to the basics, and provide a service to the community..When I was on the Dept. we had a mix of medics and emts and we saved alot of lives…………..Do not drink the Koolade and join Macedonia….

While I would love to keep our own fire department it is time for shared services. Our Republican governor has cut funding to local governments in order to balance the state budget and to force local communities to join forces to cut costs and reduce taxes. We already have the county sheriff patrolling our township. If the county had a fire department would we not be interested in using their services?
Sagamore Hills could have done a better job of informing everyone and opening up discussion. But don’t let this get personal with Sagamore Hills. The time is ripe for a for a new way of doing things.

I am for the levy so we have more control of our own Fire department.

Paul, even though the cost of maintaining reliable protection against fire damage and to have our own EMS service would be greater, we would prefer to have Northfield Township provide these services. If it is on the ballot, we will vote in favor of it.

Major base reasons for consolidating with neighboring communities are still valid: that is, the elimination of equipment and personnel duplication.
Equipment:
1.     Count the EMS vehicles in all four communities. If under one umbrella, would we be able to reduce EMS truck requirements? I suspect we would. This would result in a cost savings.
2.     If Macedonia receives a second community (Sagamore Hills + Northfield Center), the chances of receiving a federal grant covering a portion the replacement ladder truck cost dramatically increases. Our basis for future equipment grants also increases with a greater population served. This cuts overall costs for the community and brings fire capabilities up to date for all in a more cost effective manner.
3.     Macedonia’s equipment servicing program is primarily in-house. NCT currently outsources a portion of their maintenance. Is there a savings here?
Personnel:
1.     Less personnel/administrative costs due to the elimination of duplicate management positions
2.     For those who say service levels would be sacrificed, no Fire Chief worth his/her salt would allow a decrease in capability to save a few dollars. Qualified frontline EMS and fire personnel would be picked up by Macedonia.

The days of standalone entities need to closely examined from the standpoint of the taxpayer. Duplication of resources no longer make sense in today’s economy. Consolidation will go a long way in reducing the need for tax increases.

I would highly support an increase in the fire levy to continue the Northfield Center Fire Department as an independent agency. I do not support, other then mutual aid, contracting to the City of Macedonia for any Township services. I do not want my tax dollars used to pay protection money to soccer stadium project (remember that?) Macedonia.

Why does Macedonia want to take control over  all the communities services ?  There is a reason and I don’t believe it’s just to consolidate resources.  This happened too quickly after Migliorini is back in power at MAcedonia – what is in this for him ?  Does he want to own our townships too ?  If for some reason we do get folded into Macedonia – it should be a district and named Nordonia Hills Fire District

I would prefer of course not to have taxes raised but I would vote for the levy if it meant keeping our fire dept. going.  I don’t have a problem with joining another community for a fire district as long as it isn’t Macedonia. I would really prefer not to have anything to do with them.  I don’t think the residents don’t care, I personally feel a lot of them aren’t computer savvy to respond.

2 For-if it is the last resort and all other options have been reviewed. Comment: On fixed income, cannot afford tax increase.

I agree we need other  options to decide overall but, if all else fails. I m for it x3

Please be informed that my wife and I are in favor of retaining the NCFD in our Northfield Center Township.   We like Northfield very much and feel protected as we see many police checking our development and providing those who need emergency care.  It is a very good place for us to live here in our retirement and we don’t want any public workers losing their jobs.  We understand that a little extra money is necessary to maintain what we have for safety and protection and for fair salaries for the workers.

PS we need to find a way to join another fire district to control cost. I do not feel a 6 mill will cover cost to operate fire dept as a standalone. We need to find a way to control taxpayers dollars & control township spending.  Let’s find another another solution for our township.

I cast my vote.  It is not that I do not care “….that the future of the safety, well-being and the very lives of our residents and their property are not really as important as I thought it was.”  I just believe consolidation is in the best interest of everyone.  Before we raise taxes I believe that other alternatives be explored and explored sincerely. The taxes my wife and I pay have more than doubled since moving out here and before I could support an increase in a fire levy I at least need to know that this truly was an “if all else fails”.

Not that we have the money, but, as we grow older, we will probably need to use their services. I’ve used it once, and it was excellent!!  We both vote YES on keeping NCFD.

To join with Macedonia would be terrible.  They have the worst roads in the area.

All FOR an increased levy to keep a NORTHFIELD CENTER FD AND SQUAD

Hello Paul – We as a family have mixed emotions.  Would like to see a mutual district/consolidated services for our area.  It seems politics and egos always get in the way of rational solutions (no poke at you…we appreciate all of your efforts!).  NCFD has done an outstanding job and we don’t want anyone losing jobs.  However, taxes are ridiculous…there is no end!  Hopefully there is some middle ground.  On the vote as presented, the four of us are against.

The directions for the poll were not very clear.  Normally there would be two links, one “For” and another “Against”.  That may be why the results were so low.  We are “Against”.

I have a question about this poll.  I’m just confused as to why a name and mailing address are required if this is not an official vote but just a poll.  What relevance does that play into the poll.  You have email addresses and I’m assuming you have some way of knowing that “850 of those addresses belong to Northfield Center residents” so why are names/addresses required if they are not going to be published and this is not official voting.  Just curious.

Here are two votes against the 6-mil levy. We would prefer to work with other communities to establish a new fire district.

I think it’s time to consider pooling our communities’ resources and developing a regional fire district.  It makes sense not to have duplications of services in neighboring communities and the associated cost. From what I’ve read, the number of calls for Northfield Twp. would be easily serviced by a regional district.

I would vote in favor of keeping our own department. the difference between the 2 mil  and the 6 mil is only about $13 a month and response time would be much better than if we went with Macedonia or Northfield village..

I’d like to hear more about the other options,  Typically consolidation is cheaper vs stand-alone.

I could hardly keep a straight face when seeing this proposition.  I am opposed to such a drastic increase in my property tax.  Government just takes with no regard for the average hard-working homeowner.  Just look at the schools.  Are we looking for Northfield Center to experience an exodus due to unaffordability?

I’m really torn. The idea of regionalization makes sense but also raises concerns about response time. Our fire department seems to have quick responses and does great work so I’d hate to lose them.
However, it’s likely that the costs to keep the department staffed & equipped will continue to rise. The 6 mill levy will cover expenses this year, but we should anticipate that within a year or two additional levy dollars will be needed. It’s a tough choice but at this time I am voting AGAINST

I know this is just a survey, and I’m not for anyone loosing their job-but this is a big jump in payments that I know I wouldn’t appreciate, hopefully other options will come to surface.

It’s a poll , not a vote.  Being such, consider this is our approval for the poll for the levy.  We’d like a lot more details before an actual vote.

For your poll, we would support initiating another Fire District to keep the expenses down but going out on our own is not out of the question.  Mark us as “For”.  A fire district with other towns would have issues that need to be addressed such as where would the station be, or do you man multiple stations to keep response time down? Living at the end of Northfield Center that is a concern for us if you combine with Northfield Village and the distance from that fire station.  I do believe Macedonia would place the burden on its contracted cities to pay for its financial mistakes made over the years but if a contract with Macedonia was to occur would we offer them our Fire Station as the “Station 2” for Macedonia and charge them rent to recoup some of the contracted fees that they will charge us.  Thank you for your service in Northfield Center

My apology for the delay in my response.  I wanted to do some research for myself.  You mention a lot of questions still unanswered– and I do have many.  But in the instance of an “ALL ELSE FAILS” then I would be FOR Resurrecting the Northfield Center Fire Department.  The way you have the poll question worded – to vote against means all fire personnel would lose their jobs and you would be “Forced” to contract or consolidate.  That sounds to me like you are pushing for resurrecting the Fire Department as the best option and not an “all else fails” option.  It would seem to me that consolidating – keeping the fire station and personnel in Northfield Center Township – and joining with other communities with their stations and personnel – would be in the best interests of not only community safety but a financially sound plan to potentially receive additional Federal funding for the joint effort.
Why can’t the communities of Northfield Center Township, Northfield Village, Sagamore Hills Township and Macedonia be  leaders in putting politics aside and working together for the best interests and safety of the citizens in all the communities.  You asked.

Our household is AGAINST resurrecting the NCT fire department. We think we should go in with Macedonia.

why does it have to go up to so high — I’m just afraid others are going to see the added cost be so much higher and say go with Macedonia.  I do not want to lose our fire department!

I understand the Sagamore Hills Trustees abrupt departure from the fire district gave little consideration to Northfield Center or it’s own residents opinions. I appreciate you soliciting input from Northfield Center residents. I do feel that ultimately the formation of a fire district, that would levy it’s own tax on property within the district, is the way to go, if all the communities would get on board. That would require politicians, fire administrators and citizens alike to leave their egos at the door and do what truly makes the most sense economically and operationally for fire service in the area. Only time will tell if that level of cooperation can be achieved. Until thenI feel that all avenues to address the immediate (5 mos) needs for continued fire/EMS service need to be explored. In the absence of the cost and character of these other options, I am not able to fully support a 6-mil levy at this time.  Thanks for taking this survey & for all your dedicated, hard work in keeping us informed.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT’S SAFETY, I BELIEVE KEEPING WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS THE BEST SOLUTION.  ANY COMMUNITY WE COMBINE WITH WOULD PROBABLY RAISE THE COST ALSO AND IF THE DEAL ISN’T  “IRONCLAD” , WE COULD END UP IN THE SAME SITUATION AS WE ARE IN NOW.  MY CONDOLENCES TO SAGAMORE, I THINK YOUR TRUSTEES SOLD YOU OUT !!

Because it seems much more expensive to go it alone.  Sagamore dealt us an almost insurmountable blow.  That said, I am really concerned about service times.  An Ambulance needs to come all the way from Macedonia and then travel all the way back to Twinsburg for the nearest emergency room.  It’s even farther for Sagamore Hills, have they considered this.  It seems to me that we need a 4 municipality fire district, with a satellite Ambulance or more located at the NFC firehouse.  I believe in regionalization as an important tool for managing costs.  I realize the difficulty of the situation, but the survey doesn’t really address my concerns other than cost.  What about downsizing, we are staffed for Sagamore too?  Thanks for your efforts…

Cannot afford $200 more per year.  Would love to keep our Fire District intact though.    Stinks what Sagamore trustees did.

My comment is somehow this all has to stop. Constantly increasing the amount of money a resident has to pay. This time its the Fire department. Last year it was the Sherriff. I am on fixed income. My money is all accounted for. This becomes a question of what I am willing to do without. My vote is for because without a doubt voting against means another solution would have to be considered and that IU am sure will cost me money as well. I look up and down my street and I see vacant houses which means while my tax bill keeps increasing my property value decreases. You guys are killing me.

THANK YOU for all of your hard work!!  Always so thankful for all of your efforts and being so invested in our Township!!!

I am voting  FOR to keep our fire district and the levy.   However I feel it would be great to create a new district with other partners.  Thank you for your hard work with this issue.   Best wishes in trying to get to a solid solution.

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Thank you,

Paul G. Buescher
Northfield Center Twp. Trustee Vice-Chairman
Northfield Center-Sagamore Hills Fire Dist. Board
330-467-9451
TrusteeBuescher@aol.com
www.northfieldcenter.com
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