Delhi Township trustees accept two fire retirements, approve promotions and equipment spending; police officer resigns

The Delhi Township Board of Trustees at its February 2025 meeting accepted the retirements of two long-serving fire lieutenants, approved two lieutenant promotions and one full-time firefighter hire, accepted the resignation of a police officer, and adopted two administrative resolutions related to police equipment and a vehicle trade-in.

The board approved the retirement of Lieutenant Andrew R. Ely, effective March 7, 2025, and Lieutenant Michael J. Bredesteggi, effective April 2, 2025. The trustees also approved promotions for Jeremy K. Nehee to career fire lieutenant, effective March 7, 2025, and Steven Schmidt to career fire lieutenant, effective April 2, 2025. The board approved hiring Robert J. Leinenkugel as a career firefighter‑paramedic, effective March 5, 2025, pending a psychological evaluation and pension physical. Separately, the board accepted the voluntary resignation of police officer Emma G. Girdler, effective Feb. 7, 2025.

Nut graf: The personnel actions reshape frontline public‑safety staffing in Delhi Township while the trustees also cleared two administrative measures to replace police protective equipment and to dispose of an aging township vehicle. Together, the personnel moves and equipment approvals affect day‑to‑day emergency response and department succession planning.

Chief Campbell (Fire Chief) told the board the two retirements amount to “about 60 years of service” to the community and praised both lieutenants for mentoring younger personnel and sustaining department succession. The board congratulated the promoted firefighters and welcomed Robert J. Leinenkugel, who the chief said is completing his one‑year probationary period with the department and will move to full‑time pending required checks.

Police Chief Braun briefed trustees on department staffing and operations after accepting Officer Emma G. Girdler’s resignation. Braun said the officer left for family reasons and that the department is recruiting to fill vacancies. Braun also presented January operational statistics the trustees were given: 366 fire runs for January and, for police, crashes were down about 20% year‑over‑year while incidents were up about 4% and the department took roughly four more crime reports than the previous January. Braun noted a county change taking effect March 1 that will add $20 to citation fines to cover county IT costs, raising a typical fine from $130 to $150.

Votes at a glance - Motion to accept the retirement of Lieutenant Andrew R. Ely, effective 03/07/2025 — approved. (Motion recorded; board vocal aye.) - Motion to accept the retirement of Lieutenant Michael J. Bredesteggi, effective 04/02/2025 — approved. (Motion recorded; board vocal aye.) - Motion to promote Jeremy K. Nehee to career fire lieutenant, effective 03/07/2025 — approved. (Motion recorded; board vocal aye.) - Motion to promote Steven Schmidt to career fire lieutenant, effective 04/02/2025 — approved. (Motion recorded; board vocal aye.) - Motion to hire Robert J. Leinenkugel as career firefighter‑paramedic, effective 03/05/2025, pending psychological evaluation and pension physical — approved. (Motion recorded; board vocal aye.) - Motion to accept the voluntary resignation of Police Officer Emma G. Girdler, effective 02/07/2025 — approved. (Motion recorded; board vocal aye.) - Resolution 2025‑10: Authorizing the township administrator to spend greater than $10,000 in fiscal year 2025 (dispensing with second reading) to replace police vests — adopted. Chief Braun and other trustees noted the department is replacing roughly 16 vests at about $1,600 each. - Resolution 2025‑11: Declaring a township vehicle unfit for public use and authorizing trade‑in (dispensing with second reading) — adopted. Fiscal officer reported a trade‑in allowance of $17,000 for a 2018 Ford Explorer under authority 505.10.

The board’s fiscal officer, Mister Luby, reported routine receipts and disbursements during the meeting; among items he listed were a $40,000 cable franchise fee receipt and contractor payments related to recent township construction projects. Trustees noted the Turner Construction payment discussed during the fiscal report was the final contract payment under the guaranteed maximum price (GMP), though warranty work remains.

Community development and events Community development staff said infrastructure work has begun at 889 Anderson Ferry, the former Allison Landscaping site, where earlier approvals allowed a new development plan; building permits are expected to follow. Trustees also noted construction fencing was being installed at the nearby Seton sports complex, with demolition and ground clearing to follow and a planned completion of August 2026.

Parks and recreation and the Delhi Events Center announced spring and summer programming, including a Delhi Summer Concert Series at Delhi Park Pavilion beginning June 4 and a series of classes and events at the Delhi Events Center. Parks staff said summer job postings for seasonal crews are active and that hourly pay for seasonal park workers is about $15–$16.

Ending: Trustees adjourned after confirming there was no need for an executive session. Several trustees and department chiefs used the meeting to thank retiring personnel and to underscore the township’s ongoing recruitment and succession efforts.