By SYDNEY KENT
“The Jefferson Township Board is putting their constituents at risk.”
Ossian Fire Chief Ben Fenstermaker used no uncertain terms during Monday’s town council meeting. Fenstermaker’s comment followed a report outlining the history of the issues between the department and the Jefferson Township Advisory Board regarding fire protection.
The OFD services both the town of Ossian and Jefferson Township equally. Historically, the township has not paid for an equal portion of the costs. Over the last few months, all three parties have worked towards updating a new contract to resolve the issue to no avail.
The township advisory board is unwilling to pay the department a flat check for its share of the costs and has requested a complicated arrangement of payments with stipulations. For example, the board said in a recent meeting that they are only willing to pay up to $35,000 in manpower, regardless of the total cost or the fact that this stipulation prevented them from providing their required portion.
During Monday’s meeting, Fenstermaker told the council that one of the township advisory board members is seeking services elsewhere. He advised that on June 3, the Preble Fire Department informed him that a member of the township advisory board offered the PFD $80,000 to provide fire protection services — with no stipulations. Uniondale Fire Department was reportedly also contacted about providing fire protection services to the township.
“So, they’ll write them a check for 80K, but they won’t write us a check for 80K,” council member Dennis Ealing said. “They have to pick and choose what they pay? That doesn’t make sense. Why wouldn’t you want to stay in Ossian?”
Fenstermaker emphasized that not only would response times to places like Silo Farms nearly double, but insurance rates for Jefferson Township residents would increase significantly. Fenstermaker cited a friend in the township whose insurance would rise from $2,982 to $5,220 annually.
Fenstermaker offered to speak with anyone with concerns in the future.
Township Trustee Larry Heckber requested the council approve an amendment to the current outdated contract, which would allow for the township to pay $35,000 towards manpower this year as they offered. The council approved. The motion will be taken to the next township advisory board meeting in July.
“I want to apologize that one of my board members was talking to other fire departments,” Heckber concluded. “I had no idea this was going on. If this person wanted to talk to other departments I should have been included in that conversation and I was not. Right now I don’t believe my board respects everything the town of Ossian has done. The board that I’m dealing with is making your lives miserable.”
Heckber said that he would continue to work with the board on a budget for 2025.
The council also addressed an ongoing issue with a different kind of misery: thistles. According to Phil DiNovo, Ossian resident, as well as Heckber with Ossian Revitalization, purple and Canadian thistles are invading large portions of areas at Archbold-Wilson Park. DiNovo asked the council for permission to clean the offending areas. DiNovo attached a News-Banner photograph dated June 6, showing volunteers removing and replacing invasive plants from Ouabache State Park. He also cited the thistles continue to give up to 100,000 seeds per plant, blowing into ditches and growing in other places. The council approved a motion to pay for special weed control to help with the problem.
Ossian Police Commissioner Caleb Chichester requested to pay $16,793 to Motorola Solutions for an in-car camera system, contingent on what account the funds could be used from. He also requested $1,300 for repairs on one of the department vehicles. Both requests were unanimously approved.
Baseball parents will likely see an increase in costs for participation next season in Ossian. The council discussed raising the current fee from $10 per child to $40 per child. Surrounding counties charge anywhere from $65-$80 per child to participate in the sport. Town manager Crystal Chapman told the board the funds are needed for improvements to equipment and batting cages. Parks Department President Jay Esparza said that the league is in favor of raising the fee, though not to $60.
The council also:
• Adopted an MOU (memorandum of understanding) between Biggs, Inc. and the town for the new 168-lot residential housing development, Fawn Meadows. The purpose of the MOU is to use a portion of funds from the READI grant to reimburse the developer for ongoing improvements.
• Approved a CF-1 for Energy Control.
• Approved ordinance 24-6-2 for law enforcement body camera recording. The ordinance outlines the rules and fees around obtaining a recording.
• Approved ordinance 24-6-1, which is a modification to another ordinance, which allows for golf cart drivers to be fined up to $100 for repeated violations.
• Approved a $68,455.81 payment to Wayne Asphalt for work on Millside Court and Melching Court. Funds for this project are part of the CCMG grant the town was awarded.
• Agreed to work on a resolution to gift back approximately two acres of land that was donated and unused by OD, Inc.
sydney@news-banner.com
