ROSSFORD – City council has three options to consider in order to implement a full-time fire department.

City Administrator Allyson Murray at Monday’s council meeting presented three options in a “where we were, where we are, and where we are going” presentation.

The city has had difficulties finding enough part-time firefighters to cover all shifts and has had to depend on crews from Perrysburg and Lake townships, Northwood and Perrysburg to staff the station.

Rossford is not alone in this dilemma, Murray said, and added there are other departments in the area and state that are struggling.

“We understand that the volunteer, part-time model is going away,” she said.

The goal is to provide 24/7 fire and EMS protection in the city, she said.

Option 1: A stand-alone full-time department, which would cost an estimated $2.7 million to hire 15 full-time firefighters and EMTs. The city would fund $1.5 million from the general fund, and it would take a 9.5-mill levy to generate the $1.2 million balance. The additional cost to a resident with a $200,000 home is $400 on top of the $264 already collected on the fire department’s 3.8-mill levy.

The only pro was it would provide 24/7 coverage.

The cons were many, including the cost to residents would more than double and it is doubtful the city would find 15 full-time firefighters and EMTs in this market. It would take up to one year to implement.

There is no other community in Ohio the size of Rossford that has a stand-alone, full-time department, Murray said.

They instead work with neighboring townships and communities, which is more cost effective and lets them work with the same pool of employees, she said.

Option 2: Form a fire district with one or more neighboring communities, which would cost an estimated $2.5 million. The city would need to pass an 8-mill levy to generate $1 million. The cost to taxpayers with a home valued at $200,000 would be $560 when figuring in the current levy.

Benefits include the Rossford station would be staffed 24/7 and regionalization would create significant grant funding opportunities. It allows for shared costs of vehicles, equipment and training, and shared personnel when there is a staffing shortage. This option also provides coverage from multiple locations.

Negatives include no immediate solution to staffing issues, more than double the cost to taxpayers, it would take up to one year to implement, there would only be one chief and the city would lose the autonomy of its department. A board made up of representatives from each entity would oversee operations.

Option 3: Contract with a neighboring community. It would cost $1.6 million and no additional levy funds would be needed.

Pros also include an almost immediate – within four-six weeks – of 24/7 coverage for the city. It would create significant grant funding opportunities due to the cooperative nature of the department and provides coverage from multiple locations

The only negative listed was there would only be one chief.

The hourly wage for these plans is $27.

“We heard you Rossford, we understand your concerns, and we are moving to full-time fire,” Murray said.

At least a dozen firefighters attended the meeting, with many grumbling as Murray went through her presentation.

Fire Chief Josh Drouard said after the meeting he didn’t have a favorite among the options but that something needed to be done.

Part-time departments “are a dying model,” he said.

The department is getting more calls, and the demand of the department’s 21 part-timers is increasing, he said.

Drouard has been with the department for more than 36 years and is the only full-time employee.

A sticking point with the firefighters in attendance was they had to work elsewhere to get health and retirement benefits.

Drouard said a lot of firefighters start in Rossford then move on to a full-time department.

“We are a stepping stone, but it is difficult to retain those people when you don’t have any full-time employment opportunities,” he said.

He was optimistic that if the city went full-time, it would be easier to find firefighters.

The relationship between firefighters and city administrators has been strained since the union filed an unfair labor practice complaint last fall.

The department’s budget has more than doubled since 2020, to $1,104,825 million in 2024, due to a 9.5% increase in pay over three years, double the on-call pay, and an increase in the late call bonus and the number of paid holidays.

“We believe that we had a good contract for the firefighters,” Murray said.

But in October 2023 when it was getting difficult getting shifts covered, the chief’s solution was to have each employee work three shifts a month.

A memo with the policy was sent to all fire personnel and it was rejected. The fire union filed an unfair labor practice complaint.

The state’s Employment Relations Board dismissed the complaint after its investigation revealed that it was reasonable to require part-time workers to sign up for the minimum number of three shifts to fix the staffing shortage.

Four firefighters left for full-time employment in other departments, Murray said.

“We begged, we paid overtime, we did everything, but we were not able to get these shifts covered,” Murray said.

Rather than leave the city vulnerable, firefighters from neighboring departments were offered shifts, she said.

“We don’t want overtime, we don’t want the money, we want benefits,” said firefighter Justin Richie.

Fourteen-year department veteran and union representative Chris Segura questioned Murray on several of the items in her presentation, including where the idea for three shifts came from.

Murray turned to Drouard for affirmation that the idea was discussed.

Mayor Neil A. MacKinnon III said if the third option is chosen, part-timers will have the opportunity to apply for a full-time post with no guarantee they will be hired.

“We’re only taking the very best. We’re only taking people who show up to work,” he said.

Tiffany Ilconich started with the department 22 years ago when there were 32 people and shifts still didn’t get filled. She said if the department went full time, people would apply. But she won’t be one of them because the city won’t hire a 50-year-old woman.

Council member Brenna Reynolds thanked those firefighters and EMS who showed up at the meeting.

“I truly believe everyone in the room wants to see the city do better,” she said.

It is important to get community input prior to making any decision, she said.

Former Mayor William Verbosky Jr. said the city needs to make sure to look at the economy of scale and what the city can afford. He said he supported a regional department.

Council member Rachel Tinney said she’s not sold on any one plan.

“I just want to move forward,” she said. “I want the city to be safe. …”

MacKinnon said the council will make its decision in about four weeks.