To the editor,
I am positve that the residents of Lake Township have seen the many social media posts and comments pertaining the FIFTH fire and EMS levy that is being asked for. I encourage all of you to look around this Township and notice a large number of firefighters that have served this Township for years all having signs asking you to vote AGAINST this Levy.
The current “leadership” has failed as no one likes a micromanaging politician who makes foolish decisions on a daily basis.
Our department has had over 55 firefighters on the roster and now with the current “Chief” we have 10. We recently just lost 3 of the most senior members due to Barrett’s poor leadership and the one member was a very solid Battalion chief who had put his blood, sweat, and tears into this department for a very long time. He helped us get together as a brotherhood and do many great things for our community as our goal has always been to make sure our community and their children are safe!
I was very disappointed to read the last roster from our department and I am extremely dissapointed in our trustees not listening to the tax payers! I personally contacted each trustee to question their decisions when they initially hired Barrett, they picked someone who worked as Portage Townships Part-time fire chief less than a year over a 40 year veteran of Toledo Fire and Rescue who was the Battalion Chief of training for a department of over 500 career firefighter EMTS and paramedics!
We shouldn’t be relying on the POLICE Chief to make the final decision on who is going to lead our FIRE department. Hummer is a great leader but has zero experience in managing a fire department. I have been in the fire service for 18 years and started out at Lake. I made it my career and I’m a fire Lieutenant at a very large department encourage you to hold your trustees accountable and vote NO on this fire levy. We need new leadership, and we need to rebuild our department.
Jeff Wheeler
Walbridge
