By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Spending on new air systems for the New Washington Fire Department was finalized by the Village Council on Monday night. Fire Chief Dick Ackerman had been working on new tanks for the air packs for some time, and this was given the final yes vote. He also brought a proposal for updating the cascade system, which is used to fill the air packs.
Ackerman brought forth bids to replace the cascade system, one being a completely new system, and the other being a certified, refurbished system. The completely new system would cost $33,537, and the refurbished system would cost $18,200. The refurbished system cost would also include $2,200 for electrical hook up during the installation. This brings the cost to $20,400 plus transport mileage from the installing company.
This new system is something that would need to occur soon anyway, the current cascade system is only capable of filling the 2216 psi packs, and the new wave of equipment is 4500 psi. Ackerman cited a recent assist from Attica, who uses the 4500 psi packs, and they had to return to Attica to refill their packs.
This new system would allow for New Washington to fill the new packs and retain the ability to use their current 2216’s. This refurbished comes with a six-month warranty and Ackerman called it, “As good as you’re going to get.”
Steve Aichholz, who is the acting EMS liaison with the Central Joint Ambulance District attended the recent meeting. New Washington has been inquiring about having the satellite location for the new year located in town. Aichholz reported that that is unlikely to happen as the district feels that would leave some portions of the county inadequately covered. Loss Creek Road and Tiro are still being touted as the most likely locations.
In the runs that the district has made to New Washington since integration, they have been consistently beating the promised 15-minute time frame. Aichholz, who is working as a first responder, reported that it took him eight minutes to arrive on site at a recent call, and Lifestar was only five minutes behind him. When New Washington was running its own ambulance service, their response time was 8-10 minutes.
“They are getting to our sites pretty quickly,” Aichholz said of Lifestar.
Other projects going on around town: the CoSam has been working with Administrator Norm Lucius on redoing the roof of the southern portion of the street department. Ned Heydinger, of CoSam, recommended that this project be done this year. The roof is heavily rotted and causing leaks. Several ideas were put on the table, but councilmen Paul Forster and Brian Agin will approach Heydinger to receive a recommendation on how to proceed. The interior lights of the Village Hall office space will be replaced this year as well.
Departmental budgets are due the first of October, and Finance Chair Scott Hiler is encouraging anyone who has not completed, or is not happy with the current budget, to get these in on time. He stressed the importance of having contingency plans in place in these budgets.
“I personally am going to be against voting for any spending that’s not in the budget,” Hiler said.
In legislation, the Ordinances related to the EMS restructure all passed on the third and final readings. Ordinance 965 abolishes the positions of the Ambulance Administration. Ordinance 966 establishes the 1st Responder Administrator, and Ordinance 967 establishes the position of Assistant 1st Responder Administrator. Ordinance 968, establishing the drive past the pool house and through the park as Robertson Way, passed on its second reading.
Ordinance 969, the rezoning bill for the new cell tower, changing the plot from Residential 2 Family to General Business, passed on its first reading. The next reading will be held at the October 13 meeting, and engineers will be on hand to answer further questions.