MADISON TOWNSHIP — Township trustees held off on approving several proposals brought forward Monday night by Fire Chief Kenneth Justus.

Trustee chair Dan Fletcher said he would prefer to wait two weeks, until the next regular meeting once the election has passed.

“I think they are excellent ideas,” Fletcher said. “But I just don’t know if right now is the right time.

“I would feel better in two weeks after the election.”

Heart monitor replacements among major proposals

Justus presented four items for discussion, beginning with a plan to replace the department’s aging heart monitors and AED units. He said the technology in the current machines no longer functions as well as newer models.

In addition, the department’s current monitors are able to do a 12-lead — which places 10 wires on a patient and shows 12 different sections of the heart.

“The new monitor does 15,” he said. “It will actually do the front and back of your heart, which has a circumflex. This is an artery that goes around the back of your heart, which a standard 12-lead will not catch.”

Justus said the older machines have required more maintenance as they age.

“The longer we wait, the more it will cost us,” he said.

The cost for the new equipment is $177,509. However, the department could trade in some of its existing equipment, reducing the cost by $16,500 and bringing the total for equipment to $161,009.

The service maintenance plan would cost $59,949, and shipping would be an additional $1,369, bringing the grand total to $222,328.

Justus added the department could trade in three older heart monitors for parts at $7,000 each, totaling $21,000.

The current Zoll heart monitors, purchased with proceeds from a 2015 grant, are nearing the end of their recommended lifespan.

Justus said he has been working with Stryker on a plan to purchase three new heart monitors, three AEDs for emergency vehicles and one to three additional AEDs for township buildings.

Stryker offers financing at 7.24 percent over eight years, similar to a recent purchase agreement made by the Mansfield Fire Department.

The department’s existing monitors are approaching 10 years old, which exceeds the manufacturer’s recommended life expectancy of eight years.

Security upgrades proposed for Township Hall

Trustees also heard a proposal from Chief Justus, regarding new safety systems from Schmidt Security at Township Hall. The plan includes four exterior cameras and an eight-channel DVR system with a 4TB hard drive, totaling $2,628.44. The cameras could be monitored remotely.

Schmidt also provided a quote for a basic fire alarm system that would add seven smoke and heat detectors and one carbon monoxide detector to the building.

“They would install it for $1,437,” Justus said. “And there would be a $42.95 monthly monitoring fee.”

“You don’t have to act on it tonight. I just wanted to bring all this to your attention.”

He noted since there are not people in the building at all times, the alarm could be either exterior or Schmidt Security would monitor it.

Justus recommended approving both systems, citing the importance of protecting township records and documents stored in the building.

Fire department email addresses and resignation

Chief Justus also discussed a request from the Professional Firefighters Union to establish official department email addresses for all full-time firefighters.

He explained that using personal email accounts for departmental business could make those messages public record.

Currently, the fire department pays about $1,036.80 annually — roughly $129.60 per employee — for eight existing email accounts.

Justus said he is researching ways to expand the system affordably and has consulted with Brian Hall of Versatile VOIP and Net 2 Services in Lexington for potential options.

“If we did just the current emails and added the full time people who do not have email addresses that would put us at 19 accounts,” he said. “With a total of $2,462.40 per year.”

Along with these items, Justus brought up the resignation of a part-time firefighter who emailed the department on Oct. 23 to say he no longer has the time to work there. Trustees approved the resignation during the meeting.

BWC announces rate increase for townships

Fiscal Officer Leanna Rhodes said she received an email regarding the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation approving a 12.3-percent base rate increase for townships, effective for the 2026 rate year beginning Jan. 1.

When factoring in class experience, anticipated changes to experience ratings, post-policy credits, and administrative costs, townships can expect an average collectible rate change of 8.7 percent.

While most public employers will pay less, townships, cities, special districts and public hospitals will pay more. This will mark the first increase since 2011 for townships.

Public hearing for zoning

Trustee Tom Brandt made a motion to adopt the zoning resolution to rezone property from I-2 to R-3, and the board approved it.

Brandt also introduced a proposal regarding recreational vehicles, including motor homes, campers and similar vehicles.

“People who have someone visiting them who wants to stay in a camper will have 30 days in a 12-month period where they can do that,” he said. “They will be required to get a permit from our zoning office for that.”

He added that owners must park the vehicles according to the proper setbacks on the property lines when they are not in use.

After Brandt made the motion, it was approved by the trustees.