by Eric Marotta

Editor

Sometimes tough decisions have to be made when it comes to providing fire and emergency medical service, but don't hold your breath waiting for area leaders to address 79 recommendations made by John D. Preuer and Associates in a recently completed fire consolidation study.

Three years ago, Nordonia Hills communities ended talks on possibly forming a fire district, after Northfield Mayor Victor Milani suggested the village cover part of Sagamore Hills.

Since Northfield Center and Sagamore were getting ready to discuss their fire service contract, the whole issue got dropped. After all, for Northfield Village to replace Northfield Center in covering the northern third of Sagamore, Northfield Center would probably have had to give up a share of its contract fee -- around $500,000 per year.

Milani recently told me he feels the village should get at least $150,000 to serve Sagamore north of Valley View Road.

At the suggestion of Macedonia Mayor Don Kuchta, the communities began meeting again in early 2006 and decided to explore a "functional consolidation" of fire services. The idea was that local communities would retain much control over their fire departments, but take steps toward sharing resources.

Now the recently completed fire consolidation study by Preuer and Associates makes the same recommendation Milani did in 2004, and it goes even further.

The study, released in April, says that within 60 days, the communities should "adopt the concept of sending the closest, most appropriate" emergency units to emergencies.

According to Preuer's study, the village can get to the northern parts of Sagamore Hills and Macedonia the fastest.

The question remains: Who's going to pay the village for serving parts of neighboring towns?

Also, who's going to pay the added cost of staffing its firehouse 24/7 to match Macedonia and Northfield Center?

Northfield Center and Sagamore Hills officials say they'll talk about that issue after renewing their fire/EMS service contract, which is again up for renewal this year.

One recommendation on hold, 78 to go.

Will any of the recommendations be addressed? Again, don't hold your breath.

For example, the very first recommendation in Preuer's study gives the communities 30 days to accomplish one fairly simple task: Pass resolutions agreeing to work on a consolidation and appointing a steering committee consisting of the area's mayors and Trustee chairpersons.

So far, only Macedonia is considering a resolution.

Reassigning fire department response without regard to municipal boundaries -- why make such a drastic change?

To improve response times. It's a matter of life and death.

How long would you want to hold your breath, waiting for the fire department to arrive?

E-mail: emarotta@recordpub.com

Phone: 440-232-4055 ext. 4103