Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Rescue topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Madison Township fire chief urges county study to create water-, technical- and confined-space rescue capabilities
Summary
Chief Ken Justice asked commissioners to fund a consultant study (Kramer & Associates) to design a countywide model for water rescue, technical rescue and confined-space response; commissioners asked staff to follow up and did not approve funding at the meeting.
Ken Justice, fire chief for Madison Township, told the Richland County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 13 that the county currently lacks coordinated water-rescue, technical-rescue and confined-space teams and asked commissioners to consider funding a consultant study by Kramer and Associates.
Justice cited a recent drowning in Shelby that required mutual‑aid responses from other counties and said local departments had no dedicated rescue teams. He described a model used in Portage County where equipment is staged at multiple fire stations and trained personnel from several departments assemble at incidents.
Justice said the consultant Kramer, already working in the region on a Mansfield study, could conduct a study for Richland County for $9,500 plus mileage and lodging while in the area. He said the study would produce recommendations on equipment placement, training needs and funding options, and that following the report the county could identify grants and local responsibilities.
Justice also clarified that the sheriff’s office dive team performs recovery rather than rescue operations and does not have the certifications required for rescue dives, which informed the committee’s concern about current capabilities.
Commissioners did not approve funding during the meeting. They said staff would review the proposal and follow up with the county emergency-management director and other stakeholders before deciding whether to fund the study.
