By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
The unexpected death of New Washington Police Chief Scott Robertson left a void in the village and, temporarily, Mayor Ben Lash will fill a portion of it.
The Village Council appointed Lash acting administrator for the New Washington Police Department. Lash will only handle administrative duties such as scheduling and other paperwork. Lash will continue in that role until an interim police chief is named. After an interim is named the Village Council will proceed with finding a full-time replacement for Robertson.
Fire Chief Dick Ackerman gave council more details about the air pack system overhaul the village will need yet in 2014. The current air packs need to have their tanks replaced but the other hardware from the packs will be able to be re-used; this will save the village about $176 per pack. The cost of the replacement tanks will be about $494 per pack and the Village has eight.
The village will be able to continue using their 2216 psi tanks. Ackerman thought initially that they might be going obsolete but received reports that there are currently no plans for this to be the case. The new wave of air packs are 4500 psi and cost in the region of $7,000 each.
What Ackerman did propose, because this move will have to be made eventually, is to update the compressor and cascade system now. A new system will allow them to fill the 4500 psi packs when they arrive, and allow them to continue using their current packs. This system will also greatly reduce fill time. The current compressor takes about 15 minutes per pack, which is not ideal when needed to be used during the fighting of a fire. Ackerman also cited a time when they were receiving mutual aid from Attica, and were not able to fill Attica’s packs as they were the 4500 psi.
By upgrading this system now, it will also spread out the expenditure as opposed to absorbing it all at once. Ackerman has been working with his supplier about whether to go with a refurbished and guaranteed system or to purchase new. When he gets the recommendation he will report the quote to council.
With the passing of Chief Robertson, Steve Aichholz has been working with the Central Joint Ambulance District as integration with New Washington moves along. He reported that they are considering the bank building in Tiro for the satellite ambulance station. Mayor Lash asked if New Washington was being considered for the satellite location, to which Aichholz answered “probably not.” However, no decision has been finalized and various options are being considered.
Also with the integration into the Ambulance District, the village was considering selling its current ambulance. After some consideration, it is the recommendation of the Safety Committee that the vehicle be retained. It will still be useful as a first responder vehicle without being overkill, and will provide some abilities that a regular first responder vehicle would not. Aichholz mentioned the ability to shelter people from foul weather in the case of an accident, and there will be extra room for first aid supply storage. Both Aichholz and Safety Committee Chair Jerri Lucius added that Chatfield and Tiro employ ambulances as their first responder vehicles.
Council approved an expenditure of $475 to finish the gables on the newly revamped picnic shelter at the park. This was not in the initial bid and by finishing this portion the roofline will be essentially maintenance free. The driveway that runs between the shelter and the pool, which has been approved to be paved, has also been named Robertson Way, in honor of the fallen chief.
There will be a public meeting before the next regular council meeting, on Sept. 22, to discuss the rezone for the Verizon cell phone tower.