by Jeff Saunders
Reporter
Nordonia Hills -- There may be a fire district in the area someday, but local officials say it will not be in the foreseeable future.
A study group of representatives from Boston Heights, Northfield Center, Northfield Village and Sagamore Hills, which has been meeting monthly since January, came to the agreement April 20 that the need to raise additional tax dollars to fund a district - particularly during an economic recession - was the biggest deterrent to forming such a union.
"It's not dead," said Sagamore Hills township attorney Jeff Snell, who has been moderating the meetings. "I'd like to believe it's just on the back burner."
Northfield Village Mayor Victor Milani said that a previously mentioned 2-mill levy proposal, which would have to be approved by voters, would not be enough for a district.
"Let's not beat around the bush," said Milani. "Two mills is not enough. We need at least three mills and three mills won't pass."
"I think with the economy, we're going to have to stay where we are," he said.
Snell said each mill would raise about $640,000, so 3 mills would raise about $1.92 million, with Sagamore Hills residents paying about half, or about $960,000. Trustee Richard Barrett said this is considerably higher than the $690,000 Snell said the township is currently paying to Northfield Center for fire and emergency medical service coverage. Barrett said that given the current economy, he does not believe that the voters would support such a levy.
"I don't think this is the time for this," said Barrett. "I don't think it will fly."
Officials from other communities said they agree.
"We passed two mills last year and it would be tough getting another mill," said Northfield Center Trustee Richard Reville.
"I don't think our constituents would support it right now," said Boston Heights Village Councilor Janet Miller.
Fire officials said they have received few complaints from residents in the last couple of years, which Northfield Center Fire Capt. Frank Risko said was an indication that there is not a pressing need for the communities to take the drastic step of forming a district.
"Our area fire departments are doing one heck of a job," said Risko. "So are we trying to fix something that isn't broken?"
The officials said they would recommend that the communities hold off on a fire district for the time being, but they said they still want to look for ways to increase cooperation to save money and operate more efficiently.
"What we have is working for all of us," said Milani. "Can we do better, yes."
Milani said he would like to see the communities "take the boundaries down," with area departments covering areas according to who can get there fastest regardless of whether they have to cross community lines.
"We don't need a district to be a good neighbor," he said.
Miller suggested that the communities could form an informal group of officials to meet and share ideas. Snell suggested that the fire departments could remain "independent units, but coordinated in some way."
The group tentatively scheduled a meeting with a larger group of community officials that met in November and December for May 21 at 6:30 p.m. to make its recommendation. Snell suggested that in the meantime, group members develop ideas for how the communities might cooperate.
"We can talk about what the possibilities are," he said.
E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169