By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
Keeping ahead of anticipated increases in utility costs, the Madison Township trustees approved a contract with its present electricity aggregation supplier for two more years and locked in the present rate.
A committee comprised of community and municipal representatives recommended staying with IGS energy when the current contract expires in February 2017. There are no changes and residents will be able to continue budget billing and incur no early termination fees. Informational and opt-out letters will be sent to all customers the beginning of 2017.
Scott Belcastro, a Trebel representative working with the township on aggregation, said proposals presented by IGS were similar to those of other companies.
“”We’re not looking at moving the relationship if the relationship is working so far,” Belcastro said. “When this renewal program takes effect Feb. 17, market rates should be considerably higher. I think we’re in a really good spot for our program. All rights are retained. I think it’s well-structured on behalf of the citizens.”
New fire station update
Madison Township Fire Chief Robert Bates presented a recommendation for a design-build contract with Turner Construction for preliminary services for new Station 183 not to exceed $270,900.
With the trustees’ approval, the fire department, administration and Turner Construction can now proceed with the design build process after voters approved a May 2015 levy for the fire station on land previously occupied by a vacant apartment complex at 3232 Noe-Bixby Road.
The 5.25-mill levy costs the owner of home with a $100,000 valuation approximately $15 a month and will finance the construction of a $3.6 million, approximately 10,000-square-foot station; provide a new medic, equipment and staff; provide operating costs and update equipment elsewhere in the department. The station is being built so it could become a full fire station if needed in the future.
“We didn’t want to under build,” Bates told Groveport City Council on Sept. 19 when questioned by Groveport City Council President Shawn Cleary about the size of the building.
Donation of the land to the township by the Franklin County Land Bank saved the township approximately $140,700 according to the parcel’s estimated market value.
Bates previously said the addition of a third station will result in reduced response times throughout the township with station locations in all three of the area’s population centers. He said emergency services dispatched from a third station will reduce the number of times the current two respond to another population center because a unit is not located or assigned to that area or is already assigned to an incident.
