Westside Messenger - September 4th, 2022
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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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