Refugee-Canyon Joint Fire District to cease operations Aug. 16
The Refugee-Canyon Joint Fire District will cease operations in mid-August, a move that was expected after the district failed to pass a levy in November 2021.
Union Township Trustee and RCJFD Board Member Jeff Sharps said the district's last shift will conclude at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 15. Sharps told The Advocate in April that district would at some point "no longer be in existence."
The Granville Township Fire Department and the first district approved a contract earlier this year for the department to cover the township north of the railroad tracks. The agreement remains the same, Sharps said, and Union Township will take over paying for the service instead of the fire district.
The Granville department is owed $85,000 for the remainder of 2022, Sharps said.
Starting Aug. 16, the West Licking Joint Fire District will cover the southern portion of Union Township as well as the Village of Hebron. Hebron Village Council unanimously agreed to join West Licking at a special meeting June 29.
As part of Hebron joining West Licking, the village is leasing the 111 Basin St. fire station in Hebron, along with some vehicles and equipment to West Licking. West Licking is also accepting the village's firefighters.
Sharps said the all the parties involved have collaborated well together.
"West Licking all the way around is wonderful to work with and I would just say that I think the way we are working together to get these contracts in place and get coverage in Union Township is the exact opposite of what it was when they formed the fire district and the animosity and the conflict," he said. "It's the opposite this time. We're all really working very well together."
Union Township will pay West Licking $200,000 for the district to cover the township for the rest of 2022, Sharps said.
A five-year contract with West Licking has already been approved, Sharps said, and the township will pay the district $1 million each year for coverage in 2023 through 2027. The township is negotiating for the same five-year contract term with Granville as well. Sharps said he expects that to cost about $450,000 annually.
When Union Township residents voted against the fire levy in 2021, it forced the trustees to look for other options. Residents told the trustees they did not agree with forming the fire district and would not pay for it, Sharps said.
After Hebron determined it would not be taking back the fire department, the township had discussions with Granville and West Licking about coverage, Sharps said.
"The arrangement that we're settling in on is best not only and first and foremost for the Union Township residents, but also manageable for both fire departments," he said.
But to pay for both contracts, the township will need to generate more money in 2023, Sharps said. The trustees have approved placing a 4-mill levy on the November ballot.
Sharps said it's critical the levy pass to ensure the township has enough money to pay for the contracts.
mdevito@gannett.com
740-607-2175
Twitter: @MariaDeVito13
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Refugee-Canyon Joint Fire District to cease operations Aug. 16
