PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
RED RIBBON WEEK … Swanton Village Council President Derek Kania reads a proclamation from Mayor Neil Toeppe declaring October 23 to 31 as “Red Ribbon Week” as the village supports efforts to combat drug use.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
The call-out of Swanton’s police and fire services to incidents on the Lucas County side of the village are being artificially delayed by communication failures of the county, according to statements made at the most recent meeting of the Swanton Village Council.
Police Chief John Trejo, in answer to a question from a council member, said there is a delay of between 15 and 20 minutes in village agencies being dispatched to such incidents.
“Anything bordering Hallett Avenue, close to that, it’s the flip of a coin as far as where that goes in the 911 system. Typically, if it goes to Fulton County we get dispatched right away.
“If it goes to Lucas County, there could be anywhere from a 15 to 20-minute delay in us getting information to our dispatch, and this is from me listening to the radio, them receiving information, and then them calling us,” Trejo said.
Because they monitor the frequency, their arrival is not delayed as they start heading toward the call before they are officially dispatched, Trejo said.
He added his own opinion that the issue got worse when Lucas County went to a consolidated 911 dispatch center.
“They won’t dispatch us to anything; we don’t have that capability. They don’t want us on their channels even though we’re partially in their county,” Trejo said.
He said calls come into Lucas County 911 dispatchers and then a phone call has to be made to Fulton County, who then dispatches Swanton units.
“We do experience the same delays,” Swanton Fire and Rescue Division Chief Cuyler Kepling said. “There’s been times that Providence Township has come into their area of Swan Creek and called our dispatch and asked ‘Hey, is ALS seven responding?’ and Fulton County has no clue what they’re even talking about because the call never even got transferred.”
Kepling said one of the issues is that Lucas County 911 dispatchers who take calls will not transfer calls.
“What typically has to happen is Fulton County 911 will have to call the 911 caller back and essentially get them to hang up with Lucas County 911 in order to talk to them, otherwise they’re just going off of information from Lucas County,” he said.
According to Kepling, sometimes when there are calls next to the county line, Lucas County doesn’t recognize Swanton as being a resource.
“There was a crash in front of the Wheelhouse earlier this year. They needed another medic and an engine, and they sent Berkey because they were the closest engine and medic in Lucas County’s eyes,” Kepling said. “So Berkey had to come through the village of Swanton to get to the crash.”
Both Trejo and Kepling agreed there were no issues when they needed to call Lucas County for additional resources, only in those instances where Lucas County should be calling them.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members voted to name Councilwoman Dianne Westhoven as the new village representative on the Fulton County Emergency Management Agency and also passed a resolution authorizing the village administrator to renew the village’s agreement with the agency.
Council members passed on an emergency basis a change to the village’s codified ordinances to correct a typographical error referring to the municipal income tax rate. The rate itself remains unchanged.
Council members approved the resignation of part-time firefighter/paramedic Christopher Stillion effective October 31.
Stillion had recently moved from full-time to part-time, and determined he no longer had the time to fulfill the duties of the position.
Council members approved a change from full-time to part-time for EMT Sammuel Lammers effective November 8. Lammers, who will soon also receive his paramedic certification, has accepted a full-time position with Sylvania Township.
Council members approved the hiring of Scott Bockelmen as a part-time firefighter/advanced EMT.
A utility repair will soon begin on North Main Street after it was discovered that roots have damaged a water main on the 300 block, according to Village Administrator Shannon Shulters. She warned it “might be extensive work.”
Shulters reported a pipe burst resulted in a leak of ferrous chloride in the Water Resource Recovery Facility.
She said the issue was discovered as quickly as it possibly could have and repaired quickly, and noted the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency had declined to fine the village for the incident due to the quick response.
Council President Derek Kania read a proclamation from Mayor Neil Toeppe – who was absent – declaring October 23 through 31 “Red Ribbon Week” to rally the community in a commitment against drug use.
A pair of residents asked brief questions regarding work on a retention pond and water drainage issues along Munson Road.
A Planning Commission hearing and public hearing regarding a zoning change will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, at 219 Chestnut Street.
The next regular meeting of the Swanton Village Council will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, November 10, at 219 Chestnut Street.
A public hearing on the possibility of changing the rules regarding the use of golf carts in the village will be held at 7 p.m.