Turkey Creek Township Approves First Reading Of 2021 Budget
By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews
SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Township advisory board Monday, Sept. 14, approved the first reading of Township Trustee Julie Close’s proposed 2021 budget, with final approved slated for the Monday, Oct. 12, meeting.
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Turkey Creek Township Trustee Julie Close presents her office’s 2021 proposed budget at the Monday, Sept. 14, meeting of the township advisory board. Photo by Ray Balogh
The $2,372,506 budget request consists of the following amounts:
• $20,000 for the rainy day fund
• $112,900 for general operations
• $86,500 for township assistance, also known as poor relief
• $15,500 for recreation
• $1,986,606 for fire territory general operating funds
• $151,000 for fire territory equipment replacement funds
The township assistance request includes $15,000 for housing; $55,000 for utilities; $8,000 for food; $1,000 for transportation; $5,000 for health care; and $2,500 for funerals, burials and cremations.
The recreation fund request consists of $15,000 for life guards and $500 in miscellaneous expenditures.
The advisory board and fire board both unanimously approved two requests by Fire Chief Mickey Scott:
• Renewal of the fire department’s health insurance plan, which expires Sept. 30, allowing for coverage of personnel with the current $2,500 deductible provision.
• Purchase of a set of turnout gear, not to exceed $3,000, for a new volunteer firefighter. The funds are available in the existing budget without the need for an additional appropriation.
After the meeting the board discussed scheduling a closed-door executive meeting to discuss a pending issue.
Fire Board
Scott presented his August report to the fire board:
• The department responded to 33 fire calls and 109 EMS calls during the month. The territory experienced an estimated $7,300 in property loss due to fires of a shed, landscape material and a vehicle, while department deployments saved the territory $495,000 in potential property damage.
• Department personnel completed 460 hours of fire and EMS training. Topics included inventory and operations of all equipment, apparatus and supplies; annual hose testing; physical agility tests; fire simulation training systems; pharmacology; environmental trauma and trauma resuscitation, including chest decompression, nasal intubation and cardiac pacing.
• Delivery of the department’s new fire engine is expected as early as this week.
• The department acquired a Titus 2 positive pressure ventilation fan, which will be taken on fire calls and used to remove smoke from areas in which firefighters are working.
• Both the department’s fire engines and aerial passed the annual pump test.
• The department will conduct a CPR class at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Station 1, 402 N. Huntington St., Syracuse. According to Scott, the class will be “conducted with some changes in place due to the COVID-19 precautions as well as limitations on the amount of attendees.” The class is free and anyone interested in attending may sign up by calling (574) 457-4100.
• Scott announced a benefit walk for the Hoosier Burn Camp, starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at Station 1. “All activities for this event will be held outside the fire station due to the COVID-19 precautions,” said Scott. Anyone who would like to walk or donate may call or text Jonathan Piercy at (574) 202-6882.
• The department is seeking to fill a firefighter/paramedic position. Applications are available at www.syracusefd.com or in person at Station 1 or Station 2, 8138 E. McClintic Road, Syracuse.
The fire board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, in Syracuse Town Hall. The township advisory board will meet at 7 p.m.