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Calls decrease in 2017 for Wellsville FD

WELLSVILLE — The final statistics from the Wellsville Fire Department showed a a decrease in activity from the past year.

Fire Chief Barry Podwel presented the fire department’s activity counts for the month of December, as well as for the end of the year, at Tuesday’s village council meeting.

Starting with the monthly report, Podwel stated the department received eight calls for the month of December 2017 — six calls less than December 2016. The breakdown for the month included three odor investigations, one motor vehicle accident, one assist with EMS, one lift assist, one bomb scare, and one trailer fire to which the furnace motor went bad.

As for 2017, the department received a total of 77 calls for the year, a decrease from the 2016 count of 98.

The final detailed breakdown for 2017 consisted of 16 structure fires, eight lift assists, eight gas odor investigations, five motor vehicle accidents, five alarm drops, five bomb scares, four landing zones, four trees down, three investigations, three trash fires, three electrical shorts, two car fires, two assists with the Wellsville Police Department, two calls of water in basement, one inspection, one call of wires down, one lock out, one vehicle in building, one grass fire, one diesel fuel spill, and one assist with EMS.

In other business:

— During public comment, energy company representative John Nye addressed council about a proposal on lowering electric costs. He explained the village currently spends six cents per kilowatt hour, and that it can be lowered to 4.8 cents, leading to a potential sale of $11,500 annually. The agreement he provided would not start until the village’s current deal expires. He also said he met with the cemetery superintendent about ways to decrease money on electricity, particularly in the summer months.

Although a proposal was available for review that meeting, councilman John Morrow recommended speaking with the mayor as well as the Property-Equipment-Cemetery Committee regarding the matter.

Due to the absences of Rosie Gibson and Pinky Gill, no vote was taken. Had a vote been taken, it would have only made it to first reading as it requires five council members present to suspend the normal three-reading rules policy.

— During her report with the Property-Equipment-Cemetery Committee, councilwoman Karen Dash reported that 605 Washington St., which was destroyed by fire last year, has been purchased by the current owner of 601 Washington St.

Dash said village officials believe 605 Washington will likely be demolished since it could not be restored. The original owner of 605 Washington had resided out of the state and reportedly did not have insurance on the home at the time of the fire.

Also, Dash said she has been reviewing ordinances presented by previous committee chairman and now former councilman John Cianni, which detailed laws about property appearance and urging residents to clean properties as a way to appeal to outsiders and businesses.

“It’s about civic pride and caring about the place that we live,” she said.

Dash also said she will touch base with cemetery superintendent Mike Lombardozzi and discuss his ideas for cemetery improvements, including ways to increase revenue there.

— With a 4-0 vote, council approved a request from King’s Carryout on Main Street for the request of a liquor license.

Council will hold its next regular meeting 6 p.m. Feb. 6.

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