Ohio safety service growth sought

By Amelia Robinson
Dayton Daily News

XENIA, Ohio — Xenia’s plan for the future of safety services in the city calls for the exploration of a countywide dispatch center, relocation of the police department and providing more contractual fire services to smaller, surrounding communities.

Xenia Fire Chief Kenneth Riggsby said the 117-page, City Council-endorsed Public Safety Service Study aims to consolidate services and address funding issues felt by Xenia and other area communities.

Council reviewed and endorsed the study during last week’s council meeting.

“It’s not that we are out to take over everyone,” he said. “The best thing to do is work together.”

As the city strives to work more efficiently, safety will be upheld, said Assistant City Manager Brent Merriman.

“We are looking to maintain the level of service,” he said.

Developed over a year, recommendations in the study call for the fire department to contact provide fire and EMS services for surrounding communities.

The city recently signed a five-year, $156,000 annual contract to provide EMS and police services to Central State University in Wilberforce, about four miles away.

City Manager Jim Percival said that Xenia Twp. rejected a previous proposal to receive its emergency services from the city. He said some township officials have expressed a renewed interest in pursuing such an arrangement.

The city’s 2012 roughly $37 million budget includes about $6 million for fire/EMS services, $5.6 million for police, and $1.36 million for dispatch services.

Due partly to losses projected to be brought on by state cuts, the city estimates that the 42-member fire department will lose $357,062 over five years if it does not generate about $500,000 in additional funds through contracts with other communities and launch a new part-time program.

“We will have a couple of lean years coming,” Percival said.

He said the reduction of full-time positions will be done through attrition.

“We’ve been through the layoff thing before, he said. “In the long run, there are no savings.”

Six part-time firefighters are expected to be hired following the anticipated retirement of three full-time fire fighters next year. The city anticipates the move will save about $120,000 a year. The city’s civil service process will be changed to give part-time Xenia firefighters preference when full-time jobs open.

The city estimates it saved about $24,000 by switching its previous full-time parking enforcement position to two part-time parking positions.
Jim Osburn, the city’s long-time parking enforcement officer, retired in April.

Three other recommendations:

* Adding more parking meters in key downtown areas such as around the courthouse.

* Restarting talks concerning a single dispatch center for all communities in the county. Xenia already provides dispatch services for the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and smaller departments to the east and north. The topic was last discussed about five years ago.

* Possibly relocating the police division to the closing Simon Kenton School. The police division is now housed in a 6,000 square foot space in the basement of City Hall.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2384 or arobinson @DaytonDailyNews.com.

Copyright 2012 Dayton Newspapers, Inc.