Plain Trustees hire new firefighters, paramedics

July 27--TUESDAY MEETING -- KEY ACTION: Trustees approved the hiring of seven new Plain Township Fire Department paramedic/firefighters.

DISCUSSION: The township promised residents it would hire new fire personnel, said Trustee Scott Haws.

New personnel will help improve response times, Haws said, noting that the township has built out and added more commercial ventures in recent years.

Voters approved a five-year, 8.7 mill fire levy -- an increase of an existing levy -- last year. The levy was anticipated to generate an additional $1.34 million a year for the department.

Candidates completed numerous testing, evaluations and interviews over six weeks, said Fire Chief Don Snyder.

The new personnel will be hired contingent on passing a physical -- trustees approved a separate resolution to pay for those physicals.

Trustees also approved a resolution to buy uniforms. The department is transitioning to new uniforms for everyone, Snyder said.

OTHER BUSINESS

--Trustees held a brief public hearing on the 2017 alternative tax budget. Trustees will vote on the budget at their next meeting.

--Approved hiring Eric Ryan Corp. for utility auditing services. The company will analyze the townships bills and look for overpayments, overcharges or other discrepancies. The company doesn't charge a fee but instead takes a cut of any funds they find, he said. Township Law Director Eric Williams alerted trustees to parts of the contract he had issues with.

--Approved using four decommissioned police vehicles for stabilization and extraction training. The four vehicles are old and unsafe to drive so could not be sold at auction, said Township Administrator Lisa Campbell.

--Announced an OVI Checkpoint in conjunction with the Stark County Sheriff's Office on Friday, 8-11 p.m., on Easton Street and Middlebranch Avenue.

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