By Amanda Ensinger
Staff Writer
A local township once again tabled a request to move forward with hiring an administrative assistant.
At the recent Prairie Township meeting, the board tabled hiring a full-time administrative assistant for the fire department.
The fire department had previously asked the board to approve posting the position, saying they need their own dedicated administrative assistant.
“After nearly five months of splitting the current administration assistant’s time between the fire department and the township administrative office, it has become apparent that both departments need a full-time employee,” said Dave McAninch, road superintendent for the township.
At the meeting, residents also asked about expanding the fire department.
“I would love for us to have a third firehouse in the future,” said Prairie Township Fire Chief Allen Scott. “However, we will have to look into that.”
The board also approved spending $32,500 with the Flock Group for additional safety equipment for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. This caused some residents concern since the township already agreed to pay the sheriff’s office just over $1 million in 2022, a 4 percent increase.
The agreement includes two dedicated cars 24 hours a day seven days a week and one dedicated care 16 hours a day seven days a week. According to the sheriff’s office, other services include, but are not limited to full service, swat team, bomb team and the bike unit.
The township said the increases were due to a multiple of variables.
“These include personnel and equipment,” said James Jewell, township administrator. “The deputies received annual raises and health care costs increased. The costs for maintaining the cruisers increased also, which included fuel prices and equipment maintenance.”
