DUKE CENTER — With the Christmas season approaching, the residents of Otto Township got an early “present” Wednesday evening when the supervisors passed the 2020 budget with a one mill tax increase in property tax.
This will affect all property owners with an average increase of $30.00 to $60.00 per parcel, according to Tax Collector David Silvis, but is necessary to maintain a safe, healthy, and prosperous community. Half of the millage is dedicated to the ambulance service of the Otto Township Volunteer Fire Department. The other one-half mill increase is necessitated in part by the bridge situation in Rixford and the newly-signed ambulance service contract.
Newly elected Fire Chief Christopher Schwab and EMT Jerry Rettger broached the dilemma that nearly every small community is now facing — a shortage of volunteers, especially ones who are willing to undergo the necessary extensive training to become an EMT and ones who would be available during the daytime hours.
Schwab did report that there will be six trainees taking an EMT course next year through a program offered by the University of Indiana of Pennsylvania. It is the fire department’s intent that, with the current EMTs, the new trainees, and with the cooperation of the community, they will soon be sufficiently staffed and able to provide the prompt ambulance service that is not only expected, but necessary.
To bridge the temporary gap in ambulance service, the supervisors approved a resolution and entered into an agreement with the City of Bradford. A one-year, $28,000 contract was signed requiring the city to respond to all 911 calls from Otto Township requiring an ambulance. Throughout next year, the Otto fire department will monitor the advancements made in being sufficiently staffed, EMT-wise, and make a decision before 2021 whether to renew the contract with the city.
Residents on Rixford’s Depot Street can breathe (and drive) a little easier thanks to the installation of a temporary bridge, rented from ADM Welding in Warren, spanning the South Branch of Knapp Creek. Roadmaster Jeremy Delong and the township employees installed the span with the much-welcomed help of neighboring townships’ personnel. A permanent structure is being engineered and will be constructed in the near future.
The newly-formed blight committee, upon completing a tour of the township, came up with a list of nearly thirty properties that are potentially in violation of the newly enacted Property Maintenance Ordinance. Chairman Richard Rivers will get photographs, confirm the violations, and present the property owners with a copy of the ordinance and an explanation of their noncompliance. It was agreed by both the committee and the supervisors to cite the most egregious violators first and to work with all of those who are in violation, with fines and further actions utilized as a last resort.
Garbage collection for both Rixford and Duke Center will remain as scheduled through the holidays. Residents are reminded to be thoughtful of the township employees when discarding their excess Christmas trimmings.
Patricia Barton tendered her resignation as a township auditor and Bev Danielson was appointed as her replacement. The three “Welcome to Otto Township” signs are ready for spring installation, with locations yet to be determined.
