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Two Town Hall meetings at Golf Manor Community Hall were held each on Monday, Feb. 20 and Sunday, Feb. 26. for the purpose of informing residents and gathering input on the direction of the Village’s Fire Department.
The Little Miami Fire District (LMFD) first approached Golf Manor about a potential administrative merger of fire departments back in 2015. According to the proposal, a merged department would allow both fire houses to remain operational and would share management staff, personnel and equipment. Each house would continue to operate in their own geographic region and respond in the same manner as they do now.
As Golf Manor’s Village Council works toward controlling expenses and ensuring the sustainability and quality of services and operations, this opportunity deserves consideration as it may help to sustain the long-term direction of maintaining an independent fire department. Even though LMFD is based in Fairfax, OH, a merger would have no impact on how either firehouse responds to emergencies as each would continue to respond in their geographic areas of responsibility as they do now.
After holding both resident Town Hall meetings and gathering input, the Golf Manor Village Council, at their regular meeting on Monday, February 27, authorized the Village administration to enter into detailed discussions with LMFD to outline details of a merger contract. The contract developed will be the basis of Council’s further evaluation and decision whether or not to enter into an agreement to merge or contract with LMFD.
Presentations were made by Golf Manor Village Administrator Brian Gilligan, Fire Chief Jim Puthoff, and Village Solicitor Terry Donnellon. Mayor Hirth, Vice Mayor Greg Schwartzberg, and Finance Chair Sharon Chaney with other members of Council were available to answer questions.
Links to media coverage and the presentation given at the meetings are posted below for your convenience.
Residents who have questions or wish to give feedback to Council on this issue may do so by email at info@golfmanoroh.gov.
At the Monday, February 27, 2017 regular meeting, Golf Manor Village Council voted unanimously to authorize the Village administration to enter into detailed negotiations that would lead to the formulation of a contract and/or merger of the Golf Manor Fire Department with the Little Miami Joint Fire & Rescue District. This contract would be the basis of considering a formal merger of the two fire districts. A progress report will be made at the next regular Council meeting scheduled for Monday, March 13, 2017.
Update: 4/30/2017: Although Village Council voted to authorize detailed negotiations to develop a contract between Golf Manor and Little Miami back in February, to date nothing has been presented to Council by the fire district on which to begin consideration. The Village Administration awaits LMFD’s leadership to begin discussion. There is nothing new to report at this time.
Update: 6/4/2017: On May 23, 2017, representatives from the Village of Golf Manor met with members of the Little Miami Fire District Board to begin the process of outlining provisions of a possible contract between the two entities.
Information about where and when the meetings are being held can be found here.
See our 2/1/2017 press release here.
A direct mail piece reminding residents about the meetings will be sent to homes via U.S. Mail around February 10, 2017. A PDF of the mailer card is here.
See our 2/17/2017 press release here.
Presentation slides from the 2/20/2017 meeting are available here.
See our 2/24/2017 press release here.