Following an executive session at the February 12 meeting, the Springfield Township trustees approved a salary increase for acting fire chief Jon Ziehr. He will be paid the equivalent of the chief’s salary, $122,490 annually.
Acting Chief Ziehr started with the township as a volunteer in March 1998 and was hired full time in January 2006. He was promoted to battalion chief in May 2020 He was the Lucas County EMS continuing education program administrator from 2005 to 2022 and the system process analyst from 2022 until being appointed acting fire chief.
He attended Bowling Green State University earning Ohio fire officer I and II, and has earned a number of certifications as an instructor in fire, EMS, PALS, ACLS, ITLS, advance pediatric, CPR and live fire.
He resides in Springfield Township with his wife and three children.
The acting chief was appointed in late January after the trustees placed Fire Chief Barry Cousino and Assistant Chief David Moore on administrative leave, pending the outcome of an investigation into a January 2 incident.
The incident involved two firefighter/EMTs who pronounced an overdose victim dead when they were unable to detect a pulse. They contacted the coroner’s office, who arrived after paramedics left and discovered the victim attempting to breathe.
She was subsequently revived after being administered multiple cans of narcan.
Although neither the chief nor assistant chief was present at the scene, the trustees placed them on leave, while an investigation is conducted to determine whether proper policies, procedures and chains of command were adhered to in the days following the incident.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
•Agreed not to request a hearing on a liquor license for KM Baumgartner LLC doing business as Garden Harvest Marketplace and Deli, 8060 Airport Highway.
•Appointed Brian Bet-To tinger to the joint economic development zone board (JEDZ) for the unexpired term ending December 31.
•Reviewed the zoning report for January. The department issued seven permits and collected $560.
Jacob Barnes, planning director, also updated the trustees on a board of zoning appeals meeting in January.
The BZA approved a variance for Chick-fil-A, 6720 Airport Highway, which will allow for two lanes of driving around the building and aid in the flow of traffic, he explained.
•Set a public hearing for 5 p.m., Monday, March 11 to address a text amendment regarding marijuana regulations.
•Heard from Mr. Barnes that a business inventory of the JEDZ, which runs along Airport Highway from Holland- Sylvania to Holloway roads, is complete.
“Overall, there were 22 new businesses and 24 closed businesses, so it’s pretty much a wash,” he said.
However, he noted that the number of employees in the JEDZ rose. “Overall, we had a gain,” he added.
•Learned from Administrator Mike Hampton that the township will meet with the Lucas County engineer’s office at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 19, to discuss problems of mutual interest and review upcoming county work.
•Approved organizational charts for the administration and fire department.
•Agreed to advertise for bids for the Ohio Public Works Commission road improvement project on Apple Blossom Drive. The county engineer estimates the cost will be $832,000.
•Performed a ceremonial oath of office for new trustee Rachel Geiger.
Following the ceremony, Mrs. Geiger announced that due to the appointment as trustee, she will be stepping down as fiscal officer and that a search will be conducted for that post which is an elected position.
“Any resident interested in becoming fiscal officer is asked to submit an application to the township and administration,” she said.
•Discussed ways to mitigate traffic when Raising Cane’s opens at the Boston Market location in Spring Meadows.
•Paid bills from January 23 to February 12 totaling $116,498. They also approved electronic payments of $510,617, which includes the biweekly payroll of $287,094.
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, February 26, in the meeting room of the township hall, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public.
