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The Cheer raises $48,000 See page 10
February 25, 2013
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Redlight camera contract up in air? By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com
Renovation Waite High School senior Eduardo Gonzalez sits in the newly renovated school library. The East Toledo Club recently toured the school to see the results of a $20 million renovation. See related story on page 6. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)
Lake Twp.
Fire chief, two firefighters resign By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com The Lake Township trustees have accepted the resignations of Fire Chief Todd Walters and two members of the volunteer fire department, Richard Hallock and Michelle Hallock, fire fighter/emergency medical technicians, after reportedly violating township regulations, According to a statement by the board of trustees issued during a special meeting Thursday, the Hallocks, who are married, and Walters attended the wedding Feb. 16 of Steve Sims, also a member of the fire department. “At the reception, they became concerned about the level of intoxication” of Scott Sims, Steve’s brother and a sergeant with the township police department, the statement says. “They determined that the Hallocks would drive Sergeant Sims to his home outside the township. The two determined to treat him and obtained two bags of saline
solution from Lake Township Fire Station 2 and administered these to Sergeant Sims at his home,” the statement says. Melanie Bowen, who chairs the board of trustees, said their actions are “in violation of Lake Township regulations and standards of care. The fire chief was at the wedding reception and this happened on his watch.” Trustee Ron Sims didn’t attend the meeting. Bowen and trustee Richard Welling approved a resolution appointing Deputy Fire Chief Mike Hornyak as acting chief. Hornyak was present, sitting in the seat usually occupied by Walters during regular meetings of the trustees. Steve Sims and Scott Sims are sons of Ron Sims. Police Chief Mark Hummer is investigating whether Sgt. Sims violated department standards, according to the statement. He said he couldn’t comment further due to disciplinary rules in the police union’s contract. “These are good people and we thank them for their work in all the fires they fought and emergency runs they made,” Bowen read from the statement. She said
their efforts during the June 2010 tornado that hit the township should be remembered and called their actions at the reception a “poor decision.” “As a result they each determined to resign for the good of the fire department and our township,” she said. Welling said the three “did the right thing here in immediately accepting accountability under our high standards and as role models in the community.” “Things like this are hard because we all make bad decisions,” he said. Welling and Bowen, accompanied by Tom Hays, township legal counsel, Hornyak, and Hummer went into executive session for about 17 minutes before reconvening the meeting and announcing the resignations. Bowen said the session was called to discuss issues “pertinent to fire and police department personnel.” A notice of the special meeting also mentions pending litigation. After the meeting, Bowen said she couldn’t comment on possible litigation. “We don’t know yet,” she said.
Northwood council is split over whether it should negotiate another three year contract with Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., of Arizona, which operates the automated photo speed and red light enforcement cameras at two intersections. The current three year contract, renewed in 2010, is set to expire on April 23. The city receives a share of the revenue from traffic citations issued as a result of the cameras, which are installed at the intersections of Woodville and Lemoyne roads, and at Wales and Oregon roads. In 2010, council voted 4-3 to renew the contract with Redflex. Councilmen in favor of the contract were Jim Barton, Mike Myers, Connie Hughes, and Dave Gallaher. Councilmen who were opposed were Ed Schimmel, Dean Edwards, and Randy Kozina. This time, Barton said he would not be in favor of renewing the contract. That would have made the vote 4-3 against renewing the contract at a committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 7. But Kozina, who is still opposed to the traffic cameras, did not attend the meeting, so council was evenly divided. Northwood’s share of the revenue has funded several public safety improvements, such as the continuous right turn lane on Wales Road and the flashing lights at Lark school. It was also once used as compensation for a police officer who had been laid off. Police Chief Tom Cairl said at the meeting that he thought the city could get a better deal from Redflex if council gave him authority to renegotiate the contract. “I’m pretty sure we can get a better deal than we currently have,” he said. “We’ve already had it for eight years. We have received a total of $989,000 so far from the program itself. All the revenues have been
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uote of The Week
Wall Street recently gave Main Street a black eye. John Szozda See page 9