Township Talk - June 6
The newly promoted Sylvania Township Fire Battalion Chief Robin Zaletta, Chief Chris Nye, and Lieutenant Tyler Bellman receive congratulations from Sylvania Township Trustees, family, team members, and friends after their appointments at the May 21 Board of Trustees meeting.
Promotions
The Sylvania Township Trustees officially appointed Acting Fire Chief Chris Nye to the position of Sylvania Township Fire - EMS Chief and he was sworn into office at the May 21 meeting. A longtime Sylvania resident, Nye joined the department in September 1989 as a volunteer and was hired full-time on April 11, 1994.
The trustees also approved the appointment of Lt. Robin Zaletta to the position of Battalion Chief and Firefighter/Paramedic and Tyler Bellman to the vacated Lieutenant position. Zaletta joined the department on May 17, 2000, and Bellman was hired on March 31, 2013.
“I am thankful to the Board of Township Trustees for their confidence in me to lead the department into the future. I am also proud to lead our team members to serve our community in a safe, efficient, and effective way,” Chief Nye reported.
Fees updated
In other business, the trustees approved Chief Nye’s request to update the department’s fee schedule for transport mileage fees to $17 per mile effective June 1. That fee is to be added to the department’s 2024 fee schedule.
ALS/EMS services
In a two-to-one vote, the trustees okayed amending the agreement to continue the county-wide Advanced Life Support Emergency Medical Services from the original June date to Aug. 5 when localized service is anticipated to begin. At that time, the Sylvania Township Fire Department will be responsible for providing services in the northwest region, which consists of the city of Sylvania, Sylvania Township, Richfield Township, and the village of Berkey. Since 1992, ALS and EMS have been centralized in Lucas County. Nye reported that department personnel have made plans to accommodate this change. Assistant Chief Jeff Bennett is leading the effort on developing the plan for the change in direction. “The Lucas County fire chiefs have already developed a cooperative purchase agreement for the new ALS/EMS model allowing for purchase power,” he reported. “Overall, we are in good shape for the transition. The logistics for the distribution of equipment is in progress,” he added.
New projects
The trustees authorized Road Superintendent Rob Nash to advertise for bids for the 2024 leaf pickup, the Trellis Way storm sewer improvement project, and the Sylvania Metamora Road sidewalk project.
Nash noted that the 2024 Sylvania Township road improvement project, which was awarded at the May 7 meeting to Bowers Asphalt & Paving Inc. whose lowest and best bid was $508,851.14. He pointed out that the total investment in Local Transportation Fund, generated by TARTA, will be providing $217,500 towards this project. Roads to be improved include Crossleigh Court, Portman Drive, Boulder Lane, Granite Circle, Olde Meadow Lane, Gower Road, Cinnamon Lane, and Country Side. “While no start date has been established, a no- later-than completion date of October 11, 2024 has been set,” Nash said.
The next Board of Township Trustees meeting is June 4 at 5 pm.