A month ago, I initiated a process of placing Sylvania Township on a five-year funding horizon, where every five years the voters of Sylvania Township will have the opportunity to vote on the level of spending and the level of services desired. The first step of this process was to place on the November ballot a 0.5 mill, 5 year levy for fire department operations. This levy will provide sufficient funding to operate the fire department for five years.
The second step of implementing a 5-year funding horizon for township services will begin as we start discussing our annual resolution to authorize necessary tax levies and certify them to the county auditor.
I have reviewed the current financial information for each department, and while several departments appear to be financially healthy, only the police department will not be affected by the result of levies that are on the November ballot.
When the township requested a 2.5 mil police levy in 2004, taxpayers were told those funds would create a maximum $1.8 million in cash reserves. As 2007 concludes, the police department will actually have $3.3 million in cash reserves. I recognize and appreciate the hard work of members and supporters of the Police Department to pass levies, but diligent work at controlling their budgets have paid off.
The result of the healthy financial position of the police department means that we can safely forego collecting the 1984 1.5 mill levy which currently collects approximately $757,000 without reducing police services.
If we were to choose to not take this action, the police department would continue to build cash reserves. In essence, the people who live here today would be paying for police service 15-20 years in the future. My proposal today simply begins to realign our funding sources so that those who are paying for the services actually receive the services.
I believe this is a reasonable step to take, so that we can assure tax payers that we are being prudent and efficient with their tax dollars while being cognizant of the burden property taxes place on the residents and businesses of our community. It is not the place of government to collect whatever revenue it possibly can, just because they can. Government should burden the taxpayers no more than necessary to provide basic necessary services, including emergency services of police and fire.
I believe that we are currently burdening our residents more than necessary, and will continue to support a reduction of tax revenue.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Improved Traffic Safety
Three weeks ago, I criticized Lucas County for failing to address several critical issues in Sylvania Township. One of those issues was dangerous intersections in the township. In making that statement, I was referring specifically to the intersection of Mitchaw and Brint Roads, which has historical seen numerous accident a year and is highly traveled by our teen drivers to and from sporting and school events.
I am happy to say that the Lucas County Engineer announced today plans to install stop signs on Brint Road at Mitchaw, thus making that intersection a four-way stop. This will increase the safety at that intersection, reduce accidents, and benefit the residents and visitors of our community.
Improvements are expected to take place on Monday, September 24. Several methods of notification will be used in order to identify this change in traffic signals to drivers using that roadway.
I applaud the county for finally taking this step to improve the quality of life in Sylvania Township. It would be nice if we didn't need to publicly criticize the county in an attempt to bring attention to our needs. But I am willing to do just that if it is what needs to be done to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors.
Township Land Use Plan Updated
The Board of Trustees has updated the Township's Land Use Plan for the first time in 6 years. And for the first time in over a decade, a developer has not sat as a trustee to approve or oppose a plan that could directly affect their future activities in the Township.
A land use plan for the Township is very important because we need to maintain and even improve the quality of life of existing residents but at the same time not unduly interfere with property owners' rights to realize the highest and best use of their property in the future. Sometimes this is a delicate balance, but I believe the Plan approved by the Trustees on September 4 does exactly this.
We have maintained historically residential areas on Sylvania Ave. and McCord Road, despite pressure by some to allow further commercial creep in these areas. Recommendations were made for future revisions of our Zoning Resolution that provide for better buffering between residential areas and commercial zoning. In addition, future areas of growth and redevelopment were identified so that we can be prepared with an overall view of what we want in our community; we can act proactive instead of reacting.
Let's be clear on what the purpose of the land use plan is. It is not to help property owners or developers realize the highest profit from changing the zoning on some particular parcel. It is not to diminish the value of currently existing properties in the township. The purpose of a land use plan is to help guide future development in our community so that growth is of a high quality, blends well with existing residential areas, allows for sufficient commercial areas to provide services, goods and jobs to compliment our residents, and maintains our high standard of living.
One interesting note that came out of this land use revision comes from our decision to develop a land use plan separate from the City of Sylvania. Historically, our land use plans had always been a joint venture with the city, a process that had its uses and was beneficial. But clearly, the Township and the City are in different stages of growth. The result of the joint endeavor was that certain growth issues in the township were not really being addressed because of the effort to coordinate the two different zoning codes. I won't rule out the prospect of perhaps in the future joining forces with the city to revise our land use plans, but we will certainly be more cognizant of the different needs of our community if that should take place.
You will not notice instant changes to the development you see going on in our community today. It can take a few years from the start of the process before a commercial or residential development is done. But this land use plan will improve the quality of development and protect residential areas in the future.
I want to commend and thank the Steering Committee for their hard work. Their time and effort will be a benefit to our community for years to come.
Enhanced Emergency Services
I am pleased to announce a new emergency service that is being offered to the residents, businesses, and visitors of Sylvania Township and the City of Sylvania. Starting August 20, 2007, we began offering simultaneous dispatch of ambulance services to those who find themselves in need of being transported to a medical facility but are not in a life-endangering situation.
Under the past structure of EMS services, when a medical emergency call was received by our fire dispatchers, they would send out one of the fire department's first responders - a crew of at least 2 fire fighters including at least one paramedic - to respond immediately to the scene and provide medical care. If during the initial call to 911 the dispatcher believed the call was life threatening, the Lucas County Life Squad housed at Station 1 would be dispatched at the same time.
However, if the incident was not considered to be life threatening, our first responders would be sent alone. Once on the scene, they would assess the situation and determine if medical transport would be needed, at which time an ambulance would be called to provide basic life-support transportation to a medical facility of the patient's choice. By waiting until the first responders arrive and assess the situation, an additional 10-15 minutes could go by before the patient was headed to the hospital. Now, let me reiterate, this is in non-life threatening situations.
By working with the Lucas County EMS and private ambulance companies, it is now standard operating procedure to dispatch an ambulance at the same time our first responders are sent out. This will reduce the wait before the patient can be transported to a medical facility; reduce the amount of time our first responders are out of service on a call; and increase community safety as it reduces the number of emergency vehicles operating with lights and sirens.
This enhanced emergency service is being provided to those in need in our community without making our taxpayers subsidize transport services for non-residents. If the ambulance is cancelled en route or if the patient declines transportation, the private ambulance companies will not bill for services not rendered. Finally, this will allow our firefighter/paramedics to concentrate on what they were trained to do - fight fires and provide emergency medical care, not drive an ambulance.
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