By James Massara
NEW WASHINGTON – New Washington Village Council discussed the future of ambulance services in the village during its regular meeting Monday evening.
Village ambulance administrator Steve Aichholz spoke to council to share what the future may hold for the village’s participation in the Central Joint Ambulance District.
Aichholz said it is expected that the City of Bucyrus is to leave the joint district and provide its own ambulance services in 2019. He said if that does occur, then New Washington and 14 other municipalities would possibly leave the central district and form the Crawford Joint Ambulance District.
If Bucyrus does leave and the central district dissolves, Aichholz said the new district would need a levy to fund it, but the levy cannot be put on a ballot until Bucyrus officially leaves the district and the new ambulance district is in place.
Council elected Aichholz as the representative for the village throughout the process. Ambulance district meetings occur every third Wednesday.
Council suspended the requirement to host three readings on the ordinance, but took no action on the ordinance.
In other council actions, New Washington Police Chief Jeffery Shook told council more than a dozen cats were removed from a vacant trailer in the village and turned over to the Crawford County Humane Society.
Village Administrator Norm Lucius told council he was approached on the topic of placing LED bulbs in the village street lights. Council agreed for Lucius to find estimates on the cost of the project. Lucius said he was told half of the material cost would be covered by the electric company.
Council also voted to place “No semi-trucks” signs on Center Street and to recognize June 29-30 as the community yard sale weekend.
Craig Niese was absent from the meeting.
The next council meeting is Feb. 12.