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EAST LIVERPOOL -- Police Chief John Lane and fire Chief Bill Jones gave their year-end reports at this past week's council meeting
Lane's report showed that his department handled a total of 7,677 calls during 2018, with the greatest number of those, 1,352, consisting of traffic stops.
Jones said 2018 was a "year of change" for the fire department and the city and said much of those changes would not have been possible if not for the good relationship his department has with the administration and city council and the good work of his firemen.
The assistant chief and two firefighters who resigned/retired during the year have been replaced, and Jones listed the equipment he has been able to purchase with grants the department has secured, including a new fire truck, with another on the way.
The biggest accomplishment in 2018, Jones said, was lowering the department's ISO from a six to a four, which went into effect Jan. 1 of this year, which he said should now start to be seen by residents and business owners in lower insurance costs. He encouraged them to broach this subject with their insurance carriers.
The fire department realized an increase of 892 total calls in 2018 over the previous year, going from 394 in 2017 to 1,286 last year. The large increase was attributed primarily to implementation last year of the department's co-op ambulance service, which logged 792 calls between June and September, Jones reported.
Of those ambulance calls, 58 were outside the city for mutual aid when another ambulance was not available, he said, adding that no complaints have been received about the ambulance service, nor has there been a case when any of the co-op ambulances weren't available.
"It's been very positive," Jones said, prompting Councilman Ray Perorazio, a retired city firefighter, to say he believes implementing the ambulance service was the department's biggest accomplishment.
"You don't know how many lives you've saved," he told Jones.
During his report, Mayor Ryan Stovall said thought is being given to hiring a full-time zoning inspector after current part-time inspector Karl Fife indicated he should start looking for someone in the event he retires.
"A full-time inspector would definitely work out better, and I think the position will pay for itself," Stovall said, adding that he will have to look at the cost first.
Stovall also reported a new speaker system and audio-visual equipment are being purchased for council chambers to facilitate the needs of audience members, noting that, during a recent public meeting, one person was unable to hear due to lack of microphones.
The mayor expressed his condolences, which were echoed by council members, for the loss of "some dear friends" of the city, including Terry Rudibaugh, the father of city deputy Service-Safety Director Rick Rudibaugh, saying his assistance helped get the fountain in Devon's Diamond functional; Gina Amato, former police dispatcher; and Angie Frank, former city treasurer/auditor.
At the request of Planning Director David Dawson, council approved renewal of members Fred Kane and Dan Painter to five-year terms on the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Lastly, Councilman John Mercer offered his thanks to the street department for their work clearing streets during the recent snow storm and also told the two chiefs to "please let our police and fire know how proud we are of them."