ROSSFORD – City Council voted to ask the
county auditor to crunch the numbers on options to replace two fire levies that expire at the end of
2014.City officials want to seek the money in May, but haven’t determined how to do it.The city currently
collects a 1-mill and a 0.6-mill levies.They’ve asked for an estimate of revenues for:• 0.6 mill renewal for
fire apparatus, appliances, buildings or land for a station.• 1-mill renewal for fire apparatus, appliances,
buildings or land for a station.• 0.6 mill replacement for apparatus, appliances, buildings or land for a
station.• 1 mill replacement for fire protection.• 1-mill renewal with a 0.5-mill increase for fire
protection.• 0.5-mill new levy for apparatus, appliances, buildings or land for a station.All would be for
five years.Some concern over the management of that money was raised when council learned in the Public
Safety Committee report that the price of a new ambulance had increased by $50,000 and the cost of two new
lift cots had increased by $30,000.Councilwoman Caroline Eckel explained that the increase in the ambulance
was because of a switch from diesel to gas engine. The gas engine is larger and more expensive.The change
was made, she said, because of problems with the diesel engine. Those problems have been so systematic that
it’s led to a class action lawsuit.Councilman Robert Ruse said he needed answers on these increases before
he could vote to put a levy on the ballot.City voters will also be considering two 0.4-mill replacement
levies to fund the Recreation Department.