The April 16 Springfield Township trustees meeting proved another busy one for the fire department, which paid tribute to a departing member and moved two employees to full-time status.
Acting Fire Chief Jonathon Ziehr said the department is losing Alvin (Dutch) Neitzke, one of its long-time members who–after 47 years–is retiring from the department on May 3.
In his brief letter, firefighter/ EMT Neitzke wrote, “It’s been an honor to serve the residents of Springfield Township. It’s also been an honor working with all the members of the fire department.”
The trustees accepted his retirement with regret. “Thank you for all your years of service,” said trustee Andy Glenn.
Acting deputy chief Andrew Sauder, presented Neitzke with a framed resolution signed by the trustees and honoring his years of service.
The resolution recognized the service of firefighter/EMT Neitzke who joined the township department on March 1, 1977.
In 1981, he became an engineer and in November 1982 was promoted to captain. He became a squad captain in 1985.
“Dutch delivered one baby in his career,” the acting deputy chief said, adding that the department will miss him. “He was a good mentor.”
In the proclamation, the trustees expressed their “sincere and grateful appreciation and extend to Dutch our congratulations on his well-earned retirement.”
“I’d like to thank you personally,” said Chief Ziehr. “You have been a mentor to us both personally and professionally. And you have been a father figure both in and out of the fire department. You have led a commendable career here.”
After the presentation, the fire chief received approval to move two part-time personnel to full-time status.
Firefighter/paramedics Michael Dreka and Colin Wedge were promoted to full time pending successful completion of their physical and drug screen.
The men will be paid a starting hourly rate of $29.68, and their hiring date was April 16.
The acting fire chief also presented the department statistics for March.
Last month, there were 399 calls for service in the areas served by the township, which, in addition to Springfield, includes the Village of Holland and Harding, Spencer and Swanton townships.
Of those, 278 were in Springfield Township, followed by Holland, 55; Spencer, 20; Swanton, 15 and Harding, four.
The department also provided mutual aid to Sylvania Township, Maumee, Monclova Township, Toledo, Swanton and Richfield Township.
Continued from page 1 Station 51 on South Mc-Cord Road fielded the most calls, 219; followed by Station 53, Garden and Holloway roads, 93, and Station 56 on Frankfort Road, 87.
Four site plans were reviewed for Dick’s Sporting Goods, 1470 Spring Meadows Drive, fire alarm update; Toledo Express Airport, 11271 West Airport Service Road, remodel; Rally House, 6460 Centers Drive, new business, and Apple Blossom, final plat, new construction.
Three fire investigations were conducted last month– one vehicle and two structure fires.
The vehicle fire at 606 South McCord Road occurred inside a compartment and was ruled incendiary. Damage was estimated at $24,000.
A structure fire in an apartment at 2015 North McCord Road began in a kitchen and was ruled accidental with damage set at $50,000.
However, the chief noted it was confined to the kitchen area, resulting in a savings of $850,000 for the remainder of the building.
A second fire at 36 Sandbury Court occurred in a bathroom and was ruled mechanical from the fan. Damage was set at $10,000, but the damage was limited to the bathroom saving $240,000 given the home’s value.
Acting chief Ziehr pointed out personnel had a busy month with live fire training and several public relations sessions involving CPR training and the installation of smoke detectors in homes.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Established a no engine brake prohibition on Eber Road in the township.
•Entered into an agreement with Midwest Contracting for the boring of a new sewer line across Albon Road for $43,900.
•Approved the Lucas County 911 plan as required by Ohio law.
•Purchased security camera systems from Triotech of Whitehouse for $8,205.
•Approved a letter of support to ODOT for its application of grant funding for low or no emission grant program. Locally the funding would be used to support TARTA’s mission to have fuel efficient transportation.
•Heard from Andy Hohlbein, director of public services, that the township sold three graves and had four burials at the cemetery and staff realigned some tombstones as needed along with cemetery clean up.
“It’s starting to look really nice,” he said.
•Agreed to participate in the ODOT rock salt contracts for the winter of 2024-25.
The township will purchase 100 tons of rock salt.
•Paid bills from April 3 to 16 totaling, $47,731, and electronic payments of $388,105, which includes the biweekly payroll of $290,738.
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Tuesday May 7, in the township meeting hall, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public.
