Fire Department structural issues detailed
BY TOM STEPHENS
Examiner Contributor
Approximately $17,000 in past-due utility payments owed to the Village of DeGraff were legislated off the books at the DeGraff Village Council regular meeting Tuesday, April 4.
The ordinance stopped the collection on specific accounts that may well be fraudulent or would cost the village more to litigate than could be collected. The council generally agreed to these particular “write-offs” throughout the process and the ordinance passed on the third reading Tuesday without a dissenting vote. The village is continuing to pursue payment on many other past-due accounts that have much clearer provenance, estimating that about $50,000 has already been collected.
In his report to the council, Village Administrator Ken McAlexander said he received bids totaling approximately $70,000 for structural repairs to both the west and south walls of the the DeGraff Fire Department building. There was some discussion about the overall condition of the fire station, but no action was taken on the information provided Tuesday, as the council is awaiting the results of the May levy before going ahead with any plans for the fire department.
The levy is asking for additional 0.5 percent income tax in the village, which if passed would give the village the borrowing power for a new fire station on land donated by the Riverside Local School District.
But, as McAlexander reminded the council, regardless of the outcome of the May election, the problems with the current fire station remain and will have to be dealt with sooner rather than later.
The council also passed a motion that rejected the bids from Robinaugh Ambulance Services for EMS service to the village. Robinaugh submitted two bids that were opened at the last council meeting, both of which exceeded $550,000 per year, as previously detailed in the Examiner.
The village remains without a contract with an EMS service and the matter is in the hands of the Finance Committee.
Since March 1, emergency medical calls from DeGraff are relayed through the Logan County Sheriff’s Office dispatch system, where the nearest available EMS is called to the scene. The village’s contract with Riverside EMS was dissolved at the end of February.
The DeGraff Village Park will be getting a $17,000 makeover, which includes two new ADA-accessible picnic tables, the installation of adult exercise equipment, a new swing and a five-hole disc golf course.
As a condition of the grant, the village is responsible for one-quarter of the total costs of equipment and installation, which was agreed to by the council without discussion.
The DeGraff Village Council will meet again in special session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, to discuss two items: The Neighborhood Grant Revitalization Meeting process and potential projects, and the disposition of the DeGraff Firehouse.
The council will meet again in regular session at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 18.
