And the fire survey says ...

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by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Nordonia Hills -- More staffing, new fire stations, altering coverage boundaries and consolidating dispatch centers were among almost 80 recommendations made by a consultant hired to survey fire and EMS service in five neighboring communities.

Community officials say the recent completion of the nearly year-long study -- summarized in a 88-page book distributed at a public meeting at the Macedonia City Center April 19 -- gives them a lot to think about.

"I think we really got our money's worth," said Macedonia Mayor Don Kuchta. "I think if it ever happens that the communities get together, this is our best shot."

Macedonia, Boston Heights, Northfield Center, Northfield Village and Sagamore Hills commissioned the study in 2006 at a cost of $5,850 per community from Mentor-based John D. Preuer & Associates.

Preuer, who served as fire chief in Mentor from 1982 to 2001 and is a former president of the Ohio Fire Chief's Association, said the five communities have grown at an enormous rate in recent years and would be the county's fourth largest city if they were combined.

He said that this population growth, along with greater emphasis by the state in providing funding to communities that share fire and EMS services, indicates that the communities are moving in the right direction.

The 78 recommendations include having the nearest fire department respond to emergency calls, regardless of community boundary lines. This would mean, for instance, that Northfield Village would be first responder to some portions of Sagamore Hills, where Northfield Center is currently the first department to respond.

Village Mayor Victor Milani said he liked this idea.

"We should be in concert with Northfield Center in covering Sagamore Hills," said Milani. "It's nice to have someone saying what we have been saying for a long time."

Examples of other recommendations include:

* Expanding fire station staffing in Macedonia from four to five firefighters and staffing in Northfield Center from three firefighters to four in the daytime and from two to three at night.

* Remodeling or replacing the Northfield Center and Boston Heights fire stations.

* Standardizing training, at least for officers, and having joint departmental drills.

* Merging the dispatch centers in Macedonia and Sagamore Hills. Or, if they remain separate, make the Macedonia dispatch center a separate city department with its own director.

* Having Sagamore Hills handle all fire and EMS dispatching duties for Northfield Center. Currently, fire and EMS calls that originate in Northfield Center are routed through the Summit County Sheriff's Office. Calls that originate in Sagamore Hills are forwarded by the Sagamore Hills police dispatch center to the Northfield Center Fire Department.

"We have two dispatch centers that aren't communicating with each other that are dispatching for one fire department," said Preuer.

Preuer said that many of the recommendations would decrease fire insurance costs for residents and businesses.

Preuer also recommended officials approve another phase of his study that would help the communities better decide if they want to form a fire district -- a formal organization with its own board of trustees and taxing authority -- or simply cooperate to some degree, but remain separate departments.

Officials opted last year to hold off on this portion of the study, which would cost an additional $3,000 for each community.

Officials said their next step is to discuss the matter individually before continuing the study.

"I haven't gone through the whole book yet, but there are definitely some points worth pondering," said Northfield Center Trustee Paul Buescher. "There's a lot we could implement."

Boston Heights Village Council president Bill Goncy said he expected the study to be discussed by Council at its April 24 finance committee meeting.

"The purpose of all this is to see what we can do for our residents with the money we have now," said Goncy.

Kuchta said that once city officials digest the report, he wants to schedule a meeting with City Council to discuss it.

"Just the fact that they show how we can lower the insurance rates of our residents is fabulous," said Kuchta. "I'm looking forward to working with our neighbors and I hope we can make something happen." E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 440-232-4055 ext. 4105