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Westside Messenger - September 4th, 2022

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www.columbusmessenger.com<br />

Township Focus<br />

Safety issues addressed in Prairie<br />

By Amanda Ensinger<br />

Staff Writer<br />

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office<br />

executed Operation Unity in Prairie<br />

Township.<br />

“They were able to execute over 20<br />

arrests; six being for felony offenses,” said<br />

Deputy Burton Haren at a recent Prairie<br />

Township board meeting. “About 40 grams<br />

of illegal drugs were seized, as well as one<br />

illegal firearm.”<br />

The deputy also reminded residents<br />

that the new fireworks law is going into<br />

effect.<br />

“Fireworks are still a violation of the<br />

township noise resolution and can be ticketed<br />

for violating,” Haren said.<br />

Haren said a noise ordinance violation<br />

occurs when an individual can hear the<br />

noise 100 feet from where the noise is coming<br />

from.<br />

“If fireworks can be heard from 100 feet<br />

away, they (the individual) can be cited for<br />

noise,” he said. “The ORC (Ohio Revised<br />

Code) does not supersede the township<br />

ordinance.”<br />

In other news, Prairie Township Fire<br />

Chief Allen Scott asked the board to<br />

approve spending $42,774 to purchase a<br />

new power cot and related accessories for a<br />

new medic.<br />

“By approving this purchase, we will<br />

By Amanda Ensinger<br />

Staff Writer<br />

lock in the current price and not be<br />

required to pay for the items until the new<br />

vehicle is ready for delivery,” Scott said.<br />

Scott also asked the board to approve<br />

hiring Ohio First Responder Grants to<br />

write a FEMA AFG grant for diesel<br />

exhaust removal systems for each fire station.<br />

“This system would collect and safely<br />

remove diesel exhaust from the station,”<br />

Scott said. “Diesel exhaust has been found<br />

to be a major cause of firefighter related<br />

cancer. Diesel exhaust can also be destructive<br />

to equipment and other items due to<br />

extended exposure.”<br />

The total cost of the project should be no<br />

more than $200,000, with the fire department<br />

being responsible for 5 percent of the<br />

total project cost.<br />

The cost of writing the grant is $2,500.<br />

Scott also asked the board to approve<br />

hiring Ohio First Responder Grants to<br />

write a FEMA AFG grant for a new tanker.<br />

“The current tanker is permanently out<br />

of service due to unrepairable pump<br />

issues,” he said. “The cost of the new vehicle<br />

could be as much as $600,000.”<br />

The fire department would be responsible<br />

for 5 percent of the awarded amount. In<br />

this case, the award will be capped at<br />

$475,000. The fire department’s portion of<br />

the total cost could be $125,000.<br />

The board approved both requests.<br />

around the westside<br />

Wellness and foot care<br />

for senior citizens<br />

LifeCare Alliance provides a nurse at<br />

the Prairie Township Community Center<br />

A local police department is looking for<br />

ways to resolve conflict without lethal<br />

force.<br />

At a recent Franklin Township meeting,<br />

Police Chief Byron Smith discussed getting<br />

a quote for four 12-gauge shotguns that<br />

shoot bean bags instead of bullets.<br />

“If we can use non-lethal force, it would<br />

be a positive move in today’s climate,”<br />

Smith said. “The quote for four of these is<br />

$2,150. The cost of training has not yet<br />

been determined.”<br />

The board approved a resolution authorizing<br />

the police department to spend up to<br />

$3,000 on the shotguns.<br />

Smith also asked the board to approve<br />

new radar speed signs.<br />

weekly to provide free foot care and other<br />

wellness services. To schedule an appointment<br />

or for more information, contact the<br />

wellness office at 614-437-2878.<br />

Police to purchase bean<br />

bags instead of bullets<br />

“These are able to display current<br />

speeds and dictate if there are problems,”<br />

he said. “The price for two of them would be<br />

$7,550.”<br />

The board approved spending up to<br />

8,000 on the new signs.<br />

Smith also reported that the department<br />

recently took 1,062 runs on first and<br />

second shift and were not able to respond<br />

to 110 calls.<br />

In other township news, the trustees<br />

approved replacing the roof on the<br />

Township Hall for the cost of $41,650.<br />

Franklin Township Road<br />

Superintendent Jim Stevens reported that<br />

the cost of road salt has increased.<br />

“I received an email about the ODOT<br />

salt contract and the price went up over $7<br />

a ton,” said Stevens.<br />

<strong>September</strong> 4, <strong>2022</strong> - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 3<br />

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