Morgan Township trustees approve $2,500 for fire department open house, hire part‑time paramedic

Captain Yawn of the Morgan Township Fire Department asked the trustees on July 28 for the township's continued financial support for the department's fall open house and said the event is scheduled for Sept. 20, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Station 141, 5654 Sunset Brookville Road. "It is 09/20/2025 from 11AM to 2PM," Captain Yawn told the trustees. The trustees voted to contribute $2,500 toward the open house. Trustee Mister Brocker moved to approve the contribution; a second was recorded and the motion carried, with trustees Mister Cole and Mister Huff recorded as voting yes and Brocker saying he would abstain on an earlier vote but later the motion to fund the open house was approved. Chief Mignery gave an update on grants and staffing. He said the department this year had received about $68,000 "worth of grants" to date and listed recently submitted or awarded items, including a grant to the Michael J. Culligan Fund for replacement headlights for Engine 141 (amount given in the record as "$15.85 dollars"), a $1,050 award from the Hanover Life Squad for right‑angled flashlights, a $677.88 award from Rumpke, Inc., an Enbridge grant request for $5,490 for MSA G1 rechargeable SCBA batteries and a $16,901.02 submission to CSX Railroad for rope equipment and accessories. The catalogue of grants and amounts was described by Chief Mignery during his remarks. Chief Mignery requested multiple personnel and purchase actions. Trustees approved hiring Charles Smith as a part‑time firefighter‑paramedic at a rate of $22.50 per hour, effective Aug. 3, 2025. The chief said Smith had previously worked for the township before taking a full‑time position in Oxford and returned after completing paramedic school. Trustees also approved a purchase order to National Host Testing Specialties, Inc., in the amount of $3,270.80 from fund 2111 for yearly host testing services. During public comment, a resident recommended that the fire association consider purchasing another snow‑cone machine to share with neighboring departments for events. Captain Yawn and Chief Mignery described how event funds are used for food and consumables and noted the department plans to buy a snow‑cone machine for future events. The trustees did not identify additional conditions on the hires or grants during the meeting; actions taken were motions and recorded votes as noted in the minutes.