SOUNDING THE ALARM … Director of Communications Heather Mercer shared that the sirens throughout the county were sounded due to five events being reported in a six minute span. The incidents were reportedly due to high winds on April 17th. The occurrences included an overturned semi, downed trees and poles, and damage to a rooftop.
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
After roll call, the Williams County Mayor Association moved to approve the minutes from their March 20, 2024 meeting at their April 17th meeting that began shortly before 6:30 p.m.
After the March financials were approved, Pioneer Mayor Ed Kidston began discussing whether automatic mutual aid was necessary as it wasted resources. Montpelier Mayor Steve Yagelski shared that he has helped to fight fires, and “lived and breathed” firefighting for 11 years.
He shared that automatic mutual aid is necessary, and that “being trapped in a structural fire, with no water, searching for people you don’t know are there is one of the scariest things in the world. If you don’t have the manpower there, you’ll hurt yourself.”
He shared that the program helps in crucial moments, and that while some revisions might be able to be made, the policy is one that he fully endorses.
Commissioner Hilkert shared that not having the mutual aid policy in place would cost the municipalities more in the long run, as the result of an out-of-hand fire could be costly.
The conversation changed as Commissioner Terry Rummel introduced Heather Mercer, Director of Emergency Communications for Williams County, who came in to share that the sirens went off during the recent storms due to damages caused by the storm, as in a matter of six minutes there were five incidents reported.
An overturned semi, downed trees and electric poles, and a damaged roof from a suspected tornado was reported, which justified the sounding of the siren.
Edgerton is on their own siren system, with the rest of the system being county-wide. Discussion was had on looking into whether the sirens could be reprogrammed to allow for the siren to sound in individual municipalities, and notes were made for repair to Edgerton and Stryker sirens.
Holiday City Mayor Pamela Clark gave an update on One Ohio Recovery Foundation, with the website being up since March, where nonprofits and government organizations can register to apply.
Deputy Dog Warden Kinsley Martin from the Williams County Humane Society shared that a grant has been received for TNR (trap, neuter, release) throughout the county, and detailed how wonderful these programs are for culling cat populations.
Anyone living within city limits of a Williams County is eligible, with outdoor cats costing $40, inside cats $120, and dogs at $180 regardless of size.
Grants like this are what make the low-cost desexing of outdoor cats possible. It costs $245 to adopt a dog, and $70 to adopt a cat. Volunteer and donation efforts can be made through their website.
With nothing further to address, the Williams County Mayors Association adjourned at 7:30 p.m., set to meet next on May 15, 2024, with hopefully all the chiefs of the county’s fire departments and Williams County Prosecutor Katie Zartman.