Township attorney Andrew Grossnickle reported to the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday, April 11, he penciled some drafts of a state-mandated oversight policy “based on the state’s memo and research.”

The state requires all political subdivisions, such as townships, to have in place by July 1 a policy describing procedures to address “any variances, theft or shortfall in excess of $500 or nonmonetary discrepancies of more than $2,000,” according to Grossnickle.

Part of the procedure is promptly reporting the anomaly to the state board of accounts.

“We must also have an oversight committee,” he said. “We need to nominate a committee, which may consist of board members.”

Grossnickle will provide the policy drafts to board members and present a polished version at next month’s meeting.
In other business, Barb Griffith, township trustee, presented her financial report in an expanded format requested by board members.

Disbursements showed a transfer of nearly $100,000 to the fire territory.

Poor relief expenditures for March were “down a little bit,” said Griffith.

The township also made its annual contribution to the parks department in March. The 2016 contribution totaled $7,000.

All in all, expenses ran “slightly below normal,” according to Griffith.

Board member Kim Cates asked Fire Chief Mickey Scott whether he had been contacted by the designers of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trails project to ascertain emergency vehicle access parameters to and along the planned pathways.

She cited a like concern during a similar project in Warsaw.

Scott said no one had contacted him, but he affirmed “we need the paths at least wide enough for an ATV because of the wet ground in the marsh.” He will call the designers “to see whether the plans allow for emergency vehicle access.”

Scott also demonstrated the differences between the outdated SCBA equipment the department has been using and the new recently purchased equipment.

Scott highlighted the enhanced safety features of the new air packs versus the “at least 20 year-old” equipment now in use:

• The new air packs are lighter, more streamlined and more maneuverable.

• The new air bottles will provide a firefighter’s air supply for 45 minutes. “Most guys work 20 minutes (with the old tanks) though they are rated for 30 minutes,” he said.

• The low air alarm on the new equipment is activated when the air bottle reaches 33 percent capacity; the old alarms sounded at 25 percent. The apparatus “will vibrate on the firefighter’s face and an alarm will sound,” signaling the low air level.

• The hoses are all placed within the frame of the new units, reducing the risk of snagging.

• The new units are equipped with a system sending out a signal that can be picked up with a hand-held wand, thus locating firefighters if communication is lost.

• The new manufacturer “allows for interoperability in mutual aid situations,” said Scott.
The department has about two dozen air packs in service. “We replaced five units 1-1/2 years ago to a newer style,” said Scott. With the recent purchase of five air packs, “we still have about 12 to 14 to replace, and we’ll do about four or five a year,” he said.

The board will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday, May 9, at Syracuse Town Hall.