Rossford is going through a painful process that could potentially end with having to give up control of one of any municipality’s most treasured assets — the fire department.
City leaders should make cost and safety their first considerations, even if that means painting the words “Perrysburg Township” on their fire trucks.
Contracting with Perrysburg Township is the easiest and cheapest option in the short term. This could happen four to six weeks after approval and would cost $1.6 million. No additional millage would be needed.
In the longer run, Rossford and all of northern Wood County are probably best served by a regional fire service. Such an arrangement would allow for the most professional staff and the most economical distribution of fire houses.
A study was completed last year about merging Rossford, Lake Township, and Northwood fire and EMS operations.
The cost of that merger has been pegged at $2.5 million and take up to a year to implement, with a new 8-mill levy, at a cost of another $147 a year for a $100,000 home.