Suburban 11/27/17

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November 20, 2017

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EMS transition underway By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com Lake Township officials plan to have a township-staffed paramedic emergency medical service department operating in the first quarter of 2018, ending a contract for service personnel with LifeStar. Voters in the township on Nov. 7 overwhelmingly approved a 1-mill property tax levy that will generate about $230,204 annually for the 24/7 service. A 0.8-mill levy already on the tax duplicate also helps fund the service. Mark Hummer, township administrator, said meetings with LifeStar executives are being scheduled for next week to prepare an exit strategy for the township. Under the agreement with LifeStar, which is set to expire next April, the company provides two paramedics for each shift and the township provides an emergency vehicle, equipment and houses the on-duty personnel at the administration building on Cummings Road. Currently, the township is paying $70,000 annually for the service and LifeStar receives additional revenue from billing for transportation. Hummer said he and Fire Chief Bruce Moritz plan to discuss pay rates for paramedics hired by the township. “We need to set pay rates for our personnel and we are going to discuss creating an EMS coordinator position. It will be a working position, like a head paramedic, who would report to the fire chief. Obviously, I need to OK that with the (township) trustees,” he said. Hummer said he also plans to meet with LifeStar paramedics to see if there is interest in working for the township. “We certainly will talk to all the LifeStar paramedics interested in working here. We’ll have 24-hour service but we’re not sure yet if the staff will include part-time paramedics or not,” he said. To gauge anticipated revenue and costs Continued on page 2

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Every day is a gift. John Szozda See page 7

Relishing the holiday With Thanksgiving approaching, the Oregon Library hosted "Taster's Choice Cranberry Creations," an afterschool program for teens. From left to right, Mackenna Rodgers, Destiny Martinez, Blake Chesick and Luke Chesick look on as Celine Martinez takes a turn carving apples that will go into a cranberry relish. At right is librarian Kate McGowan. The group also made pumpkin cranberry popcorn. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)

Water quality

EPA awards $4.5 million to Ohio By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $4,556,900 to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to improve the water quality of the state’s rivers and streams. The funding is awarded under the Clean Water Act, which authorizes the EPA to provide grant money to states to implement nonpoint pollution control programs. Nonpoint source pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from land runoff, precipitation, drainage and other diffuse sources. Nonpoint pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants before being deposited into lakes, rivers, wetlands, and ground waters. Nonpoint source pollution can include: •Excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural lands; •Oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production; •Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks; • Bacteria and nutrients from livestock,

Previous grants funded by the program include Canada geese/gull control with specifically trained dogs for Lake Erie/Maumee Bay State Park. (Photo courtesy of Ohio EPA) pet wastes and faulty septic systems Nonpoint source pollution is the leading remaining cause of water quality problems, according to the EPA. It has been shown that these pollutants have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries and wildlife.

Partnerships The grant demonstrates the value of state and federal partnerships, said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “Providing funds directly to Ohio is an excellent example of EPA empowering a state to address its unique and critical enviContinued on page 2

3239 Navarre Ave., Oregon, Ohio 43616 Ph: 419-693-4311 Fax: 419-693-5005 Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-4pm


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