Watch The Roads This Winter

Be careful on the roads this winter. Information has come to me that the county has cut back on its plowing/salting of county roads this year due to the high expense of salt and a corresponding salt shortage as well as budget concerns regarding the cost of overtime. Numerous factors contributed to a salt shortage this year; the county has 25% less salt than the last 5 year average of salt use for this season's winter weather. This has resulted in a decision to decrease salt application by 50%.

Budget concerns have also prompted the county to cut in half the manpower used in salting and plowing roads during the overnight hours.

At the township, our budget allows for continued use of overtime when the weather dictates the need, but we are conserving salt resources and have reduced application rates by 1/3 in order to make sure we have enough salt to last the season.

Remember - the township maintains neighborhood/subdivision roads, while the county maintains the major thoroughfares such as McCord, Sylvania, King, Whiteford, etc.

I don't know if the Ohio Department of Taxation has changed their policy regarding salting/plowing Central Ave. and 23/475 this season. But either way, be cautious on the roads this season. They may not be as clear of ice and hazardous snow as we are used to.

Life Squad Billing

Last month, the Lucas County Commissioners voted to begin billing for the use of Life Squads, the advanced life support ambulances that are paid for through sales tax revenue. The Sylvania Township Fire Department mans a Life Squad, and we respond to Life Squad calls dispatched throughout Lucas County, though the majority of time it remains in the Sylvania area with occasional runs in outlying areas to the west, Springfield Township, Toledo and Ottawa Hills. I adamantly oppose soft-billing of Life Squad services for several reasons.

The decision to begin billing is based in part on a supposed need for increased revenue for the EMS system. The EMS system is supported by a sales tax that was passed specifically for this purpose a couple of decades ago. Officials say this is not enough to continue to support the system as it currently exists, and that soft-billing is just a band-aid. But this 'band-aid' has been 6 years in the making - yes they have slowly been working up to nailing the taxpayers with soft-billing for 6 years, and yet it is only a temporary fix. Instead of taking 6 years to provide a temporary fix, why didn't they seek a permanent solution?

Let's talk about what soft-billing is and how it negatively affects you. Soft-billing is the practice of billing insurance companies for use of the Life Squad by county residents. Any billed amount not paid by the insurance company is not pursued. For those who end up utilizing the Life Squad who do not live in Lucas County, the insurance company is also billed, but if they don't pay the entire bill, the user will be pursued for the remainder, up to and including collection action. For those who work or shop in Lucas County and directly or indirectly pay income, sales and real estate tax, that doesn't matter, they will still be hard billed for services. One excuse for doing soft-billing is that it 'doesn't cost' anyone anything. Wrong. It costs your insurance company, and your insurance company sets your rates based on how much is paid out on behalf of your group. So soft-billing will negatively affect insurance rates, though admittedly it may only be a minor amount (because the cost is spread out among so many insureds).

Sylvania Township receives approximately $660,000 from the county for manning Life Squad 6. Unfortunately, it costs closer to $1 million to operate it 24/7. We have happily subsidized this cost, as have the other four jurisdiction that operate Life Squads, because it provides a valued service to our community, not just Sylvania but the county as a whole. But in deciding to begin soft-billing, there is no agreement or firm intention to increase the amount of money the township will receive. So, while the County will be profiting off of the efforts of our firefighters, we continue to subsidize this service at great expense.

Another problem that I have with the soft-billing is the reasons they give for soft-billing, such as increased run volumes and more complex medical protocols which strain the system. Yet there is no data to support these claims. And the guestimate of $2-3 million in revenue from soft-billing is literally just that - a guestimate. There has been no study or review of run data done to arrive at that figure. They could be off by millions, they have no idea.

Finally, Lucas County EMS implements and directs new medical protocols be used in the treatment of patients without any follow-up study or review of medical data to determine if the new/added medical treatments being used are successful in preserving life. These new protocols take added personnel to implement and therefore are very expensive to the township to support and implement. If they are successful - GREAT! It is well worth the added cost. But we don't know if they are successful because there is no follow-up study being done. And again, we are being compensated at a rate that does not even cover manning the Life Squad with two Paramedics. These protocols can take three or more personnel to successfully implement.

For four years we have been reimbursed at the same rate for the Life Squad, approximately $660,000. Yet our costs are increasing (wages, benefits, insurance, fuel, etc.) every year. Add on top of that the increase demand on our personnel. Sylvania Township is being asked to provide more and more, while we are paid the same. Meanwhile, Lucas County will now begin to profit from the work of our employees (as well as the other jurisdictions' employees) with no guarantee on where that soft-billing revenue will go. There is some intent that a portion of it will go to purchase new Life Squad units, but that is not in writing. There has been some talk apparently that revenue will be shared with other jurisdictions that do not staff Life Squads, in order to supplement their fire and rescue services. But no guarantees, no promises, no commitments, just a decision to begin soft-billing.

I am opposed to the county implementing a plan to soft-bill for Life Squad services until a study has been completed which reviews all options for funding and providing emergency medical services and advanced life support transportation to those in both our community and throughout the township.

7510 Wind River Drive - UPDATE

Just a quick update on the status of the house on Wind River Drive. On behalf of the trustees, I attended the hearing on September 25 on the appeal of our decision to have the structure removed because it was not secured, not safe and structurally defective. The owner's attorney provided testimony from one expert witness as did we. The judge took the case under advisement and will be making a decision, hopefully relatively soon. As this is still pending litigation, I will refrain from further comment and will update you as soon as we have a ruling.

7510 Wind River Drive - UPDATE

As previously announced, today the Sylvania Township Trustees held a hearing regarding the property located at 7510 Wind River Drive in Sylvania Township. This was a quasi-judicial hearing based upon section 505.86 of the Ohio Revised Code, which authorizes the Trustees to order removal of any building located within the unincorporated territory of the Township which has been declared insecure, unsafe or structurally defective by any fire department, county building department or declared unfit for human habitation by the county board of health.

Today at that hearing, we heard testimony from John Walters, Chief Building Inspector for Lucas County, Nathan Fries, Registered Sanitarian for the Toledo/Lucas County Health Department, Deputy Chief Tom Eisel of the Sylvania Township Fire Department and Jim McGowan, a local builder/developer who had no pecuniary interest in this property. We also heard testimony from area residents as well as several people who stated they had an interest in this property and were performing work at the premises.

Repeatedly, the testimony that we heard was that this property was not safe, it was not secure, and it was structurally defective, all a result of the fire which occurred in November 2006, and the fact that the house remained open to the elements since the fire. Damage included water-soaked wood, standing water in the basement, and mold and mildew due to being open to the elements. Testimony regarding the ability to renovate the property included the statement that anything above the foundation was unsalvageable.

Given the testimony presented to me and the other trustees by experts in their field related to the housing and building industry, the trustees unanimously passed a resolution calling for the removal of the structure located at 7510 Wind River Drive in Sylvania Township. The resolution was declared an emergency, dispensing with the second reading, and takes effect immediately in order to preserve the public peace, health, safety and welfare of Sylvania Township.

We have authorized our Planning and Zoning Manager, Mr. Tim DeWitt, beginning thirty (30) days after service of the Resolution upon the owner and all lienholders of the property, to remove and secure the building and all appurtenances located on the property.

This has not been a quick process, and I want to thank all of the residents who have expressed concern regarding this property yet have been patient in allowing the township to work through the processes necessary to deal with troubled properties in our community.

Mosquitoes Abound

With the heavy rains of the past month, our area is experiencing a heavier-than-normal influx of mosquitoes. While this is just a fact of life for living in what used to be called the Great Black Swamp, it is still annoying; it interferes with the ability to enjoy our decks, sports facilities, and other activities where we are outside.

The township has received numerous inquiries as to why we are not spraying for mosquitoes or when we will be in certain areas. Unfortunately, we do not spray for mosquitoes. This is handled by the Toledo Area Sanitary District (TASD), which is a separate entity created by judicial order back in 1945. According to their website "The Toledo Area Sanitary District controls adult mosquitoes by daytime "misting" and by evening "fogging" operations. Schools, business and homeowners may have their properties misted by requesting this service at 419-726-7891. These properties must have an access so that a pickup truck may drive around the periphery of farmyards, wooded areas and buildings."

The township is not equipped to spray for mosquitoes and doing so would only duplicate the work of the TASD, which is paid for by a special property tax assessment. If you have concerns about mosquitoes or questions about spraying, please contact the TASD at 419-726-7891.

Rocket Ventures and the LCIC

Recently, the township was approached about investing in Rocket Ventures, a venture capital group, via our membership in the Lucas County Improvement Corporation (LCIC). County Commissioner Pete Gerken encouraged the member entities of the LCIC to invest with the prospect of great returns. I have looked into the possibility of Sylvania Township 'investing' in Rocket Ventures via the LCIC and what I have found out concerns me greatly when it comes to the role of the LCIC and its member entities.

Point blank, townships are not allowed to make an investment in a venture capital fund. We are restricted to 'safe' investments, so that the taxpayers' money is not put at risk. Further review of the rules regarding townships and Community Improvement Corpoations (CICs) indicate that townships are allowed to make financial contributions to CICs to help defray administrative expenses, but we are not allowed to give additional monies.

Basically, the suggestion that the township's use the LCIC to side-step our restrictions on 'safe' investments is not allowed under the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). This attempt to invest in a venture capital fund by way of the LCIC is illegal and something that I will not support.

I have also talked to several people regarding the county's ability to make such an investment. Per my conversations, the county is under similar restrictions regarding their investments and therefore a direct investment in Rocket Ventures would not be allowed under the ORC. Sidestepping those laws by using the LCIC is, in my opinion, highly suspect as well.

It is my opinion that the LCIC should not be used to by-pass the laws established for the safekeeping of taxpayer funds. If our member entities cannot directly make this investment, we should not allow the LCIC to be used as a middleman. I am opposed to the LCIC making an investment in Rocket Ventures on behalf of member entities. If member entities have the ability to make the investment (or believe they have the ability to make the investment) they should do so directly and not drag the LCIC into this issue.

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.