The past few months have been bittersweet for the Springfield Township Fire Department, which has had a number of long-time members retire, and this month is no different.
At the May 21 meeting, the trustees accepted retirement resignations from Kenneth McCarthy and Lynda Bennett. McCarthy’s last day will be June 4.
“I have had a wonderful, fulfilling career here in Springfield Township, and I will miss assisting the residents. I would like to thank everyone who has impacted my career and will miss the crew camaraderie. I would like to wish everyone the best of luck and stay safe,” he said.
Acting Fire Chief Jonathon Ziehr said Mc-Carthy gave the township 23 years of dedicated service. “He has been a valuable member of the department.”
Acting Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Sauder presented McCarthy with a proclamation signed by the trustees.
Sauder read the proclamation into record, noting that McCarthy was hired part time in 2001 and in 2005 joined the department in a full-time position.
“Kenneth was an instrumental engineer of multiple apparatus at many large-scale fire scenes throughout his career” and “assisted in certifying countless members on apparatus.”
He also delivered one baby in his career, the acting assistant chief said.
In her letter of retirement, Bennett said it is “with sadness and happiness that I am retiring. My last shift will be on May 31.”
She continued, “I have loved every day that I have been able to serve this township, and appreciate all the family and friends that I have had the privilege to work with. Thank you for being a part of my journey, but it is time to move onto the next chapter in my life.”
Chief Ziehr said a proclamation will be presented to Bennett at a June trustees meeting.
The trustees also accepted a resignation from Robert Briggs, a part-time firefighter, who works full time for Toledo Fire Department.
“I am resigning from Springfield Township due to not being able to put in for shifts due to my family schedule and schedule at Toledo fire,” he explained.
“I want to thank everyone who helped me grow as a firefighter and all the life lessons I have received with the senior firefighters,” he added.
The trustees thanked each one for their service and wished them well in their future endeavors.
Following the resignations, Chief Ziehr received approval to move two firefighter/ paramedics from part time to full time.
He administered the oath of office to Elizabeth Steiger and Kyle Yeager who will be paid $29.68 per hour and $27.24 per hour, respectively, based on their employment start dates. Both will work their first full-time shift on June 4.
The chief also received permission to hire eight personnel, effective May 21.
They are firefighter/EMT basic–Jeshua Drouillard and Anthony Addison, $25.01 per hour, and firefighter/EMT paramedic Rebecca Rosebrock, Trishia Baney, Justin Butler, Zachary Bingham, Ryan Bastien and Daniel Williams, $27.24 per hour.
The fire chief noted that the department is fortunate to have received so many applications for part time, pointing out “every fire department in northwest Ohio is hiring” and there is a shortage of trained first responders.
He added, with EMS reform beginning August 5, the township has a need for the additional personnel.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Authorized the purchase of 15 sets of turnout gear from Fire Safety Services Inc. for $52,880.
•Approved the purchase of a new command vehicle for the fire chief from Brondes Ford Toledo for $47,535. They also approved an emergency lighting package and siren to be purchased from and installed by Buckeye Emergency for $8,804 for the car.
“The currently used command vehicle will be repurposed as the fire inspector’s vehicle used for fire prevention, explained the acting chief, adding, “The fire inspector, a newly created position, is held by Dave Moore.”
•Approved a revised agreement for the Lucas County advanced life support emergency medical services which reflects that the City of Maumee has opted out of the agreement.
•Learned that 17 fire inspections were conducted in April. Of those, nine were mobile food units; followed by annual, six, and day care and reinspection, one each.
•Reviewed the fire report from April. Last month, the department responded to 361 calls, 260 of which were EMS. Station 51 on McCord Road fielded the majority of calls, 209; followed by Garden Road, 95, and Crissey, 57.
