Four personnel were promoted, two were hired full time and three more were approved as part-time employees for the Springfield Township Fire Department at the trustees August 20 meeting.
“This is a fantastic day for Springfield Township,” said Fire Chief Jonathon Ziehr, adding he is “pleased” to recommend the individuals for promotion and hire.
Before approving their hire, the trustees accepted resignations from department employees Olivia Harrigan and Rebecca Rosebrock, effective September 8 and July 28 respectively.
The chief read into the record one of the resignations, citing privacy laws as his reason for not reading the Rosebrock letter.
In Harrigan’s letter, she expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve the township and its residents. “I will take my experiences with me through the rest of my career,” she said.
The trustees then approved the promotions and the fire chief administered the oaths of office.
Lieutenants Andrew Vascik and Chad Born, currently serving as acting battalion chiefs, were confirmed as battalion chiefs, effective August 20 with a starting hourly wage of $44.45.
“They are two very strong candidates,” Ziehr said, adding that both stepped up over the past year, doing a great job.
Also promoted to lieutenants were acting lieutenants Brandon Klingshirn and Marcus Schuette. They began serving in that capacity on August 20 with an hourly pay of $32.57. The men had been working “in the capacity of acting lieutenants over a period of one year,” the chief noted.
The promotions left two openings for full-time firefighter/ EMT-paramedics, and hired to fill those positions were Justin Butler and Zachary Bingham. They begin work September 9 at a starting pay of $27.24 per hour.
Closing out the hiring were three personnel who will work on a part-time contingent basis as firefighters/EMTs beginning August 20 at a starting wage of $25.01 per hour. They are Michael Operacz, Adam Weist and Spencer Wilkerson.
July Statistics
Chief Ziehr presented the fire report from July.
Last month, the department responded to 407 calls. Station 51 on McCord Road fielding the majority, 250; followed by Garden Road, 87, and Frankfort Road, 70.
The majority of calls were for Springfield Township, 315, followed by Holland, 51; Swanton Township, 10; Spencer Township, eight and Harding Township, five.
They also provided mutual aid to Sylvania Township, 10; Sylvania, four, and Monclova Township and Maumee, two apiece.
Ziehr noted that four site plan reviews were conducted for outside addition, Garden Harvest, 8060 Airport Highway; office renovation, Toledo Edison, 6099 Angola Road; hood suppression, Raising Cane’s, 6550 Airport Highway, and house alterations, private residence, foster home.
There were 22 fire inspections conducted, according to fire inspector Dave Moore, including 20 annual inspections.
The department investigated two fires. A structural fire in the garage of a home at 435 North Dorcas Road caused $19,600 in damages and was determined to be the result of fireworks set off nearby that landed on the structure. The second fire involved a vehicle at 7155 Airport Highway. That fire was caused by an engine malfunction and damage was set at $19,000.
The acting chief also presented the HERO program report for July as submitted by Jodi Livecchi. They performed well checks, assisted with home repair products, assessed a patient for fall risks and replaced ouf-of-date smoke detectors.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Entered into a three-year contract with Bound Tree Medical Supplies to provide products for emergency medical use, pending review by the township’s legal counsel.
•Approved the purchase of two new tablets for medic units from Triotech Corporation of Whitehouse for $9,300.
•Learned that the department took delivery of the new 2024 fire engine, which replaces a 1998 engine that was sold on govdeals.
“The equipment and radios were installed in house by Captain Kokocinski while the numbering and lettering of the truck was completed by Bad Brush Design,” Chief Ziehr said.
•Heard from the chief that he and administrator Mike Hampton have been meeting with representatives from Spencer and Swanton townships and the Holland mayor to discuss fire and EMS services provided.
•Heard from the chief that training of personnel continues most recently with electrocardiography, fire attacks and fire dynamics courses.
“First responders frequently encounter patients with cardiac conditions where rapid and accurate interpretation of an EKG can be life saving,” he explained, adding that the fire dynamics course “ensures that our firefighters have the most upto- date information on fire behavior using today’s equipment.”
