Salem Council OKs Beloit fire, EMS dispatching deal
By LARRY SHIELDSSALEM - City council passed and emergency ordinance Monday agreeing to provide Beloit with fire and EMS dispatching services beginning Aug. 1.
Beloit is about nine miles west of Salem and in Mahoning County.
Med-Corp., a Toledo-based dispatching service, recently stopped dispatching for a half dozen townships and villages in western Mahoning County.
Councilwoman Rita Joseph O'Leary presented the ordinance but deferred explaining the details to Mayor Jerry Wolford who said it was a five-year contract at $450 per month ($5,400 annually) paid quarterly with a 90-day opt-out clause.
The agreement is for Beloit Fire Department and EMS only, O'Leary emphasized.
Beloit Councilman Jim Dyke said the village had a population of about 1,200 people and its fire department covered the village and parts of Smith Township. Its EMS coverage included the village, Smith and Knox townships.
The six-member Beloit village council met later Monday night and, with the Salem agreement in hand, also passed its own agreement.
Dyke said the vote was unanimous.
Beloit averages between 360 and 400 fire and EMS calls a year, Dyke said, adding they asked Mahoning County for help but were turned down.
Salem Councilman Dennis Groves asked about additional equipment and Wolford said it would cost about $6,000, adding "we don't know whether it's $6,000 or $7,000."
Wolford said the city had to "act fast" to get the equipment in by Aug. 1.
Med-Corp. also dispatches for the Perry Township Fire
Department and Chief Phil Panezott said the contract expires Aug. 1.
Perry Township trustees set special meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday for the purpose of approving a dispatching contract and related issues. The meeting will be held in the administration building at 2198 N. Ellsworth Ave.
Salem also provides police dispatching for Perry Township under the old fire district agreement that failed and which expires on Aug. 1.
Larry Shields can be reached at lshields@salemnews.net
