Wrapping Up Another Year’s Work
SYRACUSE — With its 2016 budget obligations out of the way, the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday evening, Oct. 12, turned its attention to some final 2015 matters.
“We’re finished with the cemeteries for the most part,” reported Township Trustee Barb Griffith of the restoration project initiated last year. “We just need a bid to get the rest of the trees taken down.”
Another remaining agenda item: the board needs to pass a salary resolution by Nov. 15 for full-time employees of the fire department.
“All of our full-time employees are employees of the township,” said Fire Chief Mickey Scott, “so this board as the provider unit must approve the resolution.”
Scott reported the department is currently conducting fire training classes for firefighter certification at the territory’s newly renovated Station 1 in downtown Syracuse, with firefighters from several area fire departments in attendance.
“We are happy to conduct this fire training for our area fire department members as other area fire departments have conducted training for our personnel on many occasions,” Scott said.
Scott addressed a recent telephone service interruption that prevented the department from receiving emergency calls via their radio repeater. The current backup system of being notified through the county dispatch center was “less than ideal,” said Scott, who researched alternative backup systems.
The department and county dispatch tested a system of transmitting calls from the communications tower at the county jail. The tests proved successful and the departments are awaiting FCC approval to use the backup system.
In his monthly report, Scott compared the department’s 2006 and 2016 budgets as they reflect the township’s contribution versus that of the town of Syracuse. In 2006, the township footed 55 percent of the department’s costs. Next year township taxpayers will pay about six times as much as Syracuse residents.
Costs, however, are holding steady. “We feel that we are providing an excellent fire and EMS service to all of the citizens of the Turkey Creek Fire Territory, including the citizens of the town of Syracuse, and we are providing the service at a rate that is $377,885 below maximum levy.”
Scott also announced the department will distribute candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween, which falls on a Saturday this year. Candy will be available at both stations, and visitors are asked to come to the front door for their treats.
Scott also dispensed advice for the costumed revelers. “They need to have some kind of reflective clothing and should have a flashlight. They should be accompanied by an adult when they go out.
“Be cautious of any candy with a wrapper that appears to have been opened,” he said. “Discard that candy just to be safe.”
The board will next meet immediately after the 6:45 p.m. meeting of the Turkey Creek Fire Board Monday, Nov. 9, at Syracuse Town Hall.