Turkey Creek Township Board discussed Monday, Feb. 13, filling a long-standing vacancy on the fire board.
Board member Kimberly Cates reported Mitch Close “has shown an interest” in the position.

The fire board consists of five members. Two must be residents of the town of Syracuse and two are selected from residents of the township.

The fifth member can be a resident of either, but the township board and town council have not agreed upon a person to fill the slot.

The board has proposed several options to the position vacated January 2016 but the town council has not approved any of the nominations.

The board mulled over options provided in the interlocal agreement. Township attorney Andrew Grossnickle said he would research the options and report back to the board.

Turkey Creek Township Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported on the upcoming Insurance Services Office public fire protection review slated for early April.

Results from the review help determine fire insurance rates for local property owners. The most recent review was conducted in 2009 and improved the rating for both the township and the town of Syracuse.

The review embraces the fire department coverage area and includes assessment of water supply, which comprises 40 percent of the overall score; communications and dispatch, 10 percent; and a survey of the fire department, which constitutes half the final score.

“The water supply form has been sent to the Syracuse Water Department for completion,” said Scott. “The communication/dispatch center information form has been submitted to the Kosciusko County communications center for completion.”

The department is currently compiling specifications for bids to replace the current 2,000-gallon gravity tanker with a 3,500-gallon vacuum tanker. The gravity tanker was purchased in 1999.

“By replacing the tanker, we are not only replacing a piece of apparatus that is in need of replacement,” said Scott, “but we are also working to improve our ISO rating for water supply in the future.”

Scott also reported, “Our department continued to conduct more CPR training classes in January 2017. CPR training classes were conducted for the employees of the Syracuse Public Works Department and employees of Little Lambs Day Care.

“We will continue to conduct these training classes as we receive sign-ups for these classes. We encourage citizens of the public to sign up and attend these classes. Our department is providing these classes to the public for free.”

To sign up for a CPR class, call (574) 457-5507.

The board will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday, March 13, at Syracuse Town Hall.