Bond issue eyed for new Toronto fire trucks

SPECIAL RECOGNITION — During Monday’s Toronto Council meeting, Mayor John Parker and council recognized the Toronto High School football team for an excellent season in which the Red Knights finished the regular season with a 7-3 record and entered the second round of the playoffs. — Warren Scott

TORONTO — Toronto Council has dropped plans for a levy to support the purchase of two new fire trucks, opting instead for a bond issue expected to be up for vote in the May 6 primary election.

On Monday, Council President Frank McEwen told fellow council members an ad hoc committee formed to consider funding options for the replacement of the city’s pumper engine and ladder truck has agreed a bond issue would be a better avenue to obtain the two vehicles.

McEwen said a bond issue was chosen because the city may not adopt a levy for more than five years and two five-year levies would be needed to support the estimated $3.2 million purchase of the two fire trucks.

He said the city could have pursued a continuous levy but questions arose regarding its use after the vehicles were purchased.

Pending voters’ approval, a levy would have been supported with tax dollars paid on the assessed values of properties in the city by its owners.

With the bond issue, the city is slated to take a loan for upfront payments for the trucks and related equipment, with the debt to be repaid through the sale of bonds to private investors.

McEwen said a representative of Bricker Graydon, a Cleveland law firm hired to assist with the levy, also supported pursuing the bond issue.

On Monday, council authorized Capt. Ryan Boyd, a grant writer for the fire department, to work with Bricker Graydon to develop language for the bond issue.

Submitting a motion for that measure was 1st Ward Councilman Clark Crago, who also is director of the TEMS Joint Ambulance District.

“I think it’s a great capital improvement project for the safety of our firefighters and the citizens of Toronto,” he said.

Prior to the vote, Boyd and City Fire Chief Bill Scheel advised over the last three years, about $16,293 in repairs have been made to the pumper truck, a 1999 model, while about $3,562 in repairs were made to the ladder truck, a 2004 model.

Scheel called the repairs “stopgap” measures aimed at extending use of the two vehicles, which have exceeded or are nearing the end of their 25-year lifespans.

McEwen, a former Toronto fire chief, said following their purchase, it will take two to three years for a manufacturer to build each truck.

Following the meeting, he said the city is on a tight schedule to get the bond issue on ballots in the primary election.

McEwen said council will consider a resolution stating its necessity at its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 23, followed by an ordinance calling for its placement on ballots at its Jan. 13 meeting.

He said both must be done so it may be submitted to the county board of elections office by the first week of February.

McEwen said funds also will be needed to promote the bond issue, and the ad hoc committee will meet at 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at Tri-B’s coffee shop to discuss such measures.

Formed by McEwen, the committee includes Councilmen Crago and Greg Herrick, both members of council’s safety committee; William “Butch” Scalley, the city’s safety director; Boyd, Bill Perkins and Lance Winstel, all members of the fire department; and several citizens.

In other business, council adopted a resolution recognizing the Toronto High School football team for an outstanding season.

Presented to the Red Knights by Mayor John Parker, the resolution noted the team finished its regular season with a 7-3 record, advancing to the second round of the playoffs, when it lost to Springfield High School with a score of 29-28.

Recognition also went to quarterback Zeb Kinsey, who was named the team’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year and First Team Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 2,337 yards, with 22 touchdowns, and running another 562 yards, with seven scores seven scores, setting new school records.

Also acknowledged were Mason Marchbank and Aiden Filby, who were named First Team wide receiver/tight ends; Russ Dickinson and Brody Winters, as First Team defense; and Brady Fair, Heath Thomas and Drake Bouscher, as Senior Team defense.

In addition to the eight, the team included: Spenser Board, Ryan Komacko, Alan Sanseverino, Andy Silverthorn, Aiden Coleman, Chase Heckathorn, Mike Henry, Ethan Humpe, Landon Jaworski, Caleb Jones, Patrick McEwen, Ashton Scalise, Matthew Tucker, Lucas Wiseman, Jadon Bentley, Kenny Bloom, Laz Bloomer, Christian Briggs, Koeltin Burkey, Brody Close, Jett Costa, Jackson Gibson, Kenny Jett, Zavier Kinsey, Evan Liddick, Ethan Thomas, Mason Clarke, Mason Daugherty, Max Rebich, Brenden Rice Wickham, equipment manager Erle Heaton, trainer Jimmy Dailey, and coaches Jaret Aubiel, Darrick Phillips, Matt Ludewig, Mike Ludewig, Mike Conlon, Rick Daugherty, Trevor Host and Harris Ong.

Councilman at large Mike Burkey noted this year was first in which Aubiel headed the football program.

Council also heard from Toronto Police Capt. Derrick Piatt, who thanked council and all residents for their support of the Christmas with a Cop program.

Piatt said with help from the fire department, the city’s police officers and their families aided Santa Claus in delivering gifts to the children of 45 families on Saturday.