2013 Township Report
Table of Contents
Administration Department………………………………………………………………………….…….1
Zoning Department……………………………………………………………………………………………14
Senior Center…………………………………………………………………………………………………….22
Road, Cemetery & Parks Departments……………………………………………………………..26
Fire Department……………………………………………………………………………………………….35
2013 Township Report
General
This report was designed to provide an in depth review of the townships finances, as well as the
facilities, services and projects being provided by the township in 2013. The focus of the report is
ultimately the flow of public funds into and out of the township. This report is not intended to meet any
statutory requirements, but to provide the public with an overview of the township during the year
2013.
Governance
The Prairie Township departments discussed in this report operate under the governance of the Prairie
Township Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees governs under authority accorded to it in Title 5 of
the Ohio Revised Code. Prairie Township operates under a Limited Home Rule Township form of
government as defined and provided fr in Section 504 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Two of the townships three trustees were up for re-election in 2013, Mr. Ron Ball and Mr. Steve
Kennedy. Both won re-election and will serve another four year term on the Prairie Township Board of
Trustees. Mr. Kennedy has served on the Board since January 1, 2006 and served as the Chairman of the
Board during 2013. Mr. Ball has served since January 1, 2010. They re-join Trustee Doug Stormont, who
has served on the Board since January 1, 2004.
Administration Department
The Administration office assists the Board of Trustees by coordinating their meetings and activities;
overseeing and coordinating township department activities; providing the Board with day-to-day
oversight of township business; and by working with the board and other township officials to formulate
and implement township budgets and appropriations . Various Township improvement planning and
economic development projects are coordinated through the Administration Office. The Administration
office also works with personnel from all township departments and outside consultants to obtain
grants for various township projects such as for Road Improvement projects. An important function of
the Administration office is to minimize the township’s expenses and maintain a balanced budget.
•
Administration works with all departments and all funds.
•
Projects directly overseen by Administration are almost always funded by the General Fund.
•
Administration works to strengthen and diversify General Fund revenues through a number of
efforts including: promoting development that strengthens the tax base; identify new revenue
sources; and working with the Ohio Township Association and others to minimize cuts to State
funding.
1
2013 Projects
This year the Administration office worked on a variety of projects in an effort to cut expenses and
better the township. This office works on projects with the direct supervision and participation of the
Board of Trustees. Some of the major projects of 2013 include:
•
The first phase of “Pension Pick-up” phase out began in 2013. Employees saw a 4% reduction in
the employee portion of their pension that was being paid by the township. This phase out will
continue with another 3% reduction in 2014 and the final 3% reduction in 2015.
•
Big Darby Accord – the township, along with the City of Columbus and Brown Township
contracted with Development Concepts Incorporated for implementation of the Big Darby
Accord project.
•
Bond Rating – In July of 2013, the Administration staff made a presentation of the township to
Standard & Poors in New York City in order to obtain a bond rating for the township. The
presentation was a great success and the township received “AA” rating. This “AA” Rating is the
product of the township’s excellent financial management. The township will save hundreds of
thousands of dollars in interest due to the high bond rating that was received.
•
Sale of Bonds – the township sold bonds totaling 9.7 million dollars to be used for funding the
construction of the Prairie Township Community Recreation Center. The township’s strong
financial position and “AA” Rating helped the bonds sell within a few hours.
•
Community Recreation Center – The Administration department continued with preparations
for the Community Recreation Center during the year 2013. See page 12 for additional
information on the Prairie Township Community Recreation Center.
•
OPWC Projects
o Beacon Hill – although this project experienced major delays in construction, it was
complete in November of 2013
o Woodlawn Avenue – this road improvement project was completed in 2013
o Evergreen Terrace – an OPWC grant/loan application was submitted in 2012 and 2013,
but the project was not funded
o Gladys Road – an OPWC grant/loan application was submitted in 2012 and 2013 but the
project was not funded.
•
West Broad Streetscape - This project has been in the planning stages since 2007, with the idea
that a JEDD or JEDZ would assist in ultimately making it a reality. Prairie Township initiated the
streetscape improvements, which will cost over $2,000,000. Four hundred thousand dollars of
this is in matching money from Prairie Township. The township’s portion of the funding for this
project was made possible in part to the JEDZ and JEDD. Prairie Township will also maintain the
street lights and landscaping in the corridor once it is installed. The project is slated begin in the
State’s Fiscal Year 2014, which begins on July 1, 2014.
•
Electricity Aggregation – On May 7, 2013, Prairie Township asked its residents to vote on an optout electricity aggregation program. The residents voted in favor of the program with 69.25%
voting yes. The program was put out for bids and the township received 4 bids from different
2
suppliers. First Energy Solutions was able to offer the township with the best discounts.
Residential participants received a 20% discount off the price to compare with commercial
participants receiving 34% off the price to compare. The program went into effect on October
15, 2013.
The statistics for the program are as follows:
4,583 households were eligible to enroll in the program
313 opted out*
2,464 are currently enrolled
*according to AEP another 1,200+ households requested that their service not be switched after the opt out
period ended.
•
Land Bank – The Administration department continued to work with the Central Ohio
Community Improvement Corporation’s Land Bank to complete the expedited foreclosure
process for 13 vacant, blighted, tax delinquent properties. The 13 properties are still in the
foreclosure process. Seven of the properties will be demolished once the foreclosure process is
complete. The township is partnering with Homes on the Hill for the remainder of the
properties to rehabilitate the homes.
•
Time Keeping Solutions – During the last quarter of 2013, Administration Staff worked with the
Fire Chief and Fiscal Officer to come up with an effective tool for employee time keeping. After
some research, the township decided to go with HR Butler for timekeeping and payroll services.
HR Butler has proven experience in dealing with complex payroll systems.
•
Metro West Apartments – Prairie Township’s Chief Building Official and Fire Marshall declared
the buildings located within the township in the Metro West Complex to be structurally
unsound, and ordered their removal. The Board of Trustees worked with the property owner,
Matrix and their partners to reach an agreement for removal of the structurally defective
buildings. The agreement gave the property owner a deadline for asbestos testing, removal of
asbestos (if required) and removal of the buildings. Should the owner default on the
agreement, the township can proceed with demolishing the building per the ORC 505.86, with
assistance from the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation. Any fee’s associated
with the township removing the buildings will be assessed to the property’s tax duplicate.
3
The Fiscal Officer renewed six of the townships lighting districts this year. These six renewals
are for a 2 year period. The chart blow depicts all of the townships lighting districts revenue and
expenditures.
Lighting Districts
Expenditures
Westpoint Ph. 1
Westpoint 2, Sec. 1
Westpoint 2, Sec. 3, 4…
Lake Darby Estates North
Westpoint, Ph.2 Sec.2
Young Estates
Norton Crossing
Clover Estates
Lake Darby Estates
Garden Heights
Village Park
Lincoln Village South
Assessment Revenue
Lincoln Village North
$80,000.00
$70,000.00
$60,000.00
$50,000.00
$40,000.00
$30,000.00
$20,000.00
$10,000.00
$-
Columbus Heights
•
Fund Balance
Revenue
Revenue for 2013 was in line with the township expectations. Some of the revenue highlights for 2013
include:
• Higher than anticipated Local Government Distribution.
• Estate tax receipts in the amount of $106,294.51.
• After the township’s audit, the Auditor’s determined that the JEDD and JEDZ would need to
have their own fund. As a result, the General Fund has to move the revenue (project portion)
for both the JEDZ and JEDD from 2012 and 2013 into those respective funds.
After removing the JEDZ and JEDD revenue from 2012 and 2013 from the General Fund into their
respective funds, the General Fund’s total revenue for 2013 was $3,605,184.36 (which includes a large
advance to the CRC Bond fund that was paid back to the General Fund in the same year).
900,000
800,000
700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
Local Government Distribution
829,400
709,662
715,141
716,339
497,517
377,933
Period
4
General Fund Revenue
General Property Tax-Real Estate
Tangible Personal Property Tax
Permissive Sales Tax
Other-Local Taxes
Other - JEDD
Other-Charges for Services
Other-Charges for Services {Zoning}
Other-Charges for Services {SCRents}
Other-Charges for Services {SC}
Fees
Fees {Drainage Review}
Fees {Zoning}
Cable Franchise Fees
Other-licenses, Permits and Fees
Fines
Estate Tax
Local Government Distribution
Liquor Permit Fees
Cigarette License Fees
Property Tax Allocation
Intergovernmental Receipts
Local Public Work Commission
Other-Special Assessments
{nuisance}
Interest
Rentals and Leases
Other-Misc - non-operating
Transfers in
Advances In
Sale of Fixes Assets
Other-Other financing sources
TOTALS
2012
$ 142,460.73
$ 28.23
$ 26,727.19
$ 632,654.47
$ 4,245.00
$
-
2013
$ 146,411.57
$ 19.06
$ 30,569.42
$ $ 23,177.07
$ 3,095.00
$
-
$ 22,960.00
$ 690.00
$ 31,080.50
$ 4,139.69
$ 23.00
$ 200,967.54
$ 51,814.57
$ 44,803.37
$ 79,298.16
$ 497,517.37
$ 14,496.65
$ 825.00
$ 23,206.63
$ 695,400.17
$ 21,030.00
$ 685.00
$ 23,128.50
$ 5,476.36
$ $ 203,083.13
$ 119,169.84
$ 70,511.98
$ 106,294.51
$ 377,933.14
$ 17,346.70
$ 865.41
$ 22,158.82
$1,258,560.10
$ 594.00
$ 18,546.53
$ 58,864.62
$ 8,586.94
$ 20,128.63
$ 42,278.41
$ 3,237.50
$ 65,022.43
$ 31,536.23
$ 653,239.89
$ $ 3,244,112.48
$1,044,407.78
$
$
$3,605,184.36
JEDD
JEDZ
5
General Fund Revenue
Taxes
1% 3%
1%
18%
JEDD & JEDZ
12%
Local Government Dist
Fees and Fines
14%
Charges for Services
51%
Interest
Other
Expenditures
2012
Administration Expenditures
Salaries
2013
Trustees
Fiscal Officer
Township Administrator
Administrator's Staff
$ 61,189.80
$ 29,537.93
$ 94,102.74
$ 50,061.34
$ 60,518.43
$27,950.00
$ 96,900.00
$ 45,334.62
Medical
$ 95,033.98
$ 109,164.92
2012
$ 26,549.58
$ 3,024.61
$ 300.00
$ 4,867.05
$ 1,223.53
$ 105,473.36
$ $ 4,000.00
$ 3,433.26
$ 12,000.00
$ 4,419.91
$ 5,793.41
$ 1,160.67
$ 2,129.02
$ 1,740.64
$ 84,000.54
2013
$ 28,700.37
$ 3,327.53
$ 300.00
$ 4,716.04
$ 1,642.82
$ 60,916.70
$ 6,352.02
$ 4,350.00
$ 5,065.00
$ $ 5,600.00
$ 6,478.01
$ 1,304.47
$ 2,656.32
$ 1,618.16
$ 45,050.00
Insurance
OPERS
Medicare
Volunteer Firemens Dependents
Workers Compensation
Unemployment Compensation
Accounting/Legal Fees
Auditing
UAN Fees
Tax Collection Fees
Election Expenses
Engineering Services
Other-Professional/Technical
Travel and Meeting Expenses
Advertising
Utilities
Contracted Services
6
Contracted Services {Special}
Liability Insurance Premiums
Office Supplies
Contributions to other organizations
Other-other expenses
$ 34,405.16
$ 1,754.77
$ 2,500.00
$ 100.00
$ 51,706.18
$ 61,744.53
$ 1,741.75
$ 2,632.74
$ 100.00
$ 7,438.34
ADMIN TOTAL
$ 652,825.14
$ 591,602.77
Township Hall
Salaries
OPERS
Medicare
Repairs and maintenance
Utilities
Contracted Services
Operating Supplies
Other-other expenses
Mach. Equip. Furniture
TOWNSHIP HALL TOTAL
$
$
$
$ 18,569.46
$ 13,283.80
$ 20,586.29
$ 5,500.00
$ 1,237.66
$ $ 59,177.21
$ 4,978.18
$ 795.01
$ 71.08
$ 2,856.36
$ 10,592.31
$ 15,291.02
$ 6,500.00
$ 1,211.14
$ $ 36,450.83
$ 24,135.07
OTHER TOTAL
$ 535,668.58
$ 1,323.89
$ 4,500.00
$ 59,545.55
$ $ 601,038.02
Transfers Out
Transfers Out -OPWC Payments
Transfers Out - Parks
Advances Out
$ 490,650.90
$ $ 53,000.00
$ -
$ 372,000.00
$ 63,039.80
$ 16,000.00
$ 828,655.25
Summer Youth Program
Other
Franklin County Sheriff
Dues and Fees
General-Contracted Services (1000-310-360)
Payment to another political (1000-420-370)
Land (1000-760-710)
$ 6,619.25
$ 59,999.54
$
$ 90,753.86
7
Legal Expenses
$5,739.28 , 8%
$18,376.72 ,
26%
$9,970.6
3 , 14%
Community Rec Center
Zoning Cases
$16,366.72 ,
23%
Metro West Apartments
Fire Department
$10,702.02 ,
2%
$33,193.41 ,
$12,078. $8,100.6
01 , 2% 1 , 1%
Admin (misc)
$21,219.47 ,
29%
Administration Expenses
Salary & Benefits
5%
Legal
$106,794.53 ,
18%
Contracted Services
$371,895.50 ,
62%
$60,916.70 ,
10%
Professional Services
Workers Comp.,
Unemployment, etc.
UAN & Audit Fees
Township Hall Expenses
$6,500.00 ,
15%
$1,211.14 , 3%
$2,856.3
6 , 7%
$15,291.02 ,
36%
$5,844.27 ,
14%
$10,592.02 ,
25%
Summer Youth Program
Utilities
Contracted Services
Repairs & Maintenance
Operating Supplies
Other
8
General Fund Expenditures
Administration
Township Hall
Zoning
$828,655.25
Commercial
Building
$591,602.77
$42,295.10
Lighting
Leaf & Chipping
$270,069.73
Health
Department
$451,039.80
$34,468.78
$6,619.25
$62,450.26
$567,394.23
Parks
Senior Center
$59,999.54
$24,135.07
$68,620.85
$93,274.49
Land
Franklin Co. Sheriff
Transfers Out
Advances Out
9
New Funds
Four new funds were established during 2013. The JEDD and JEDZ Funds, which were a requirement
from the State Auditor’s office, and The West Broad Street Streetscape Fund and the CRC Bonds Fund.
The JEDZ Fund was established per the State Auditor with a beginning balance of $632,654.47 (the 2012
receipts) and all of the JEDZ revenue, which is received quarterly, from 2013 was moved from the
General Fund into the newly create fund. Expenditures in the JEDZ Fund include:
•
•
•
•
Payment of the 2013 Franklin County Sheriff’s contract
Purchase of the West Broad Street property for the Community Recreation Center
Payment of the first interest payment on the bonds
Various other JEDZ appropriate expenses that were reallocated from the General Fund to the
JEDZ Fund in order to off-set the shift in revenue.
$400,000.00
JEDZ Revenue
$350,000.00
$300,000.00
$250,000.00
$200,000.00
$150,000.00
$100,000.00
2013
2012
$50,000.00
$-
*Net Collections
10
The JEDD Fund was also created per the State Auditor and had no revenue in 2012 that required
reallocation. The revenue from 2013 was moved from the General Fund to the JEDD Fund, and there
were no expenses in 2013.
$25,000.00
JEDD Revenue
$20,000.00
$15,000.00
$10,000.00
$5,000.00
$-
*Net Collections
A fund was established for the Community Recreation Center Bonds (“CRC Bond Fund”). The revenue
for the fund came from the sale of the bonds. This fund has paid for expenses related to the Community
Recreation Center including architectural and engineering fees, and will pay for the construction of the
building.
A fund was also established for the West Broad Street Streetscape Project. This fund will pay the
township’s portion of the beautification project as well as the continued maintenance of the project.
The revenue for this fund will come from various sources including the JEDD, JEDZ and the General Fund.
11
Prairie Township Community Recreation Center
The Township Trustees and administration staff worked continuously throughout the year with the
project team of architects and engineers, steering committee and financial planners on the financing
and development of the community recreation center. The Township’s financial advisor assisted with
securing the financing required to building the center, through the sale of bonds.
The Board of Trustees received 15 bids for the construction of the project and awarded the contract to
Barton Malow on October 30, 2013. Barton Malow’s bid came in approximately $700,000.00 less than
the project architects estimated.
The groundbreaking for the center took place on November 21, 2013.
12
The 10 million dollar facility will be approximately 40,000 square feet and is expected to open in the
spring of 2015. The building will be a full recreation facility with fitness area, an indoor walk/jog track, a
leisure pool with climbing wall, gymnasium and multi-purpose rooms. There will also be an outdoor
spray ground. The facility will also be the new home of the Prairie Township Senior Center.
Funding for this project was made possible due to the creation of the Prairie-Obetz JEDZ. The Center
will add an important amenity to the community. This will not only improve the health of our area
residents, but make the Prairie Township Community a more desirable place to live, work and do
business.
This new Recreation Center will create at least 6 full time jobs and approximately 30 part time positions
with a total payroll of approximately $600,000.00 annually. The township firmly believes that this new
amenity will create and retain jobs throughout the W. Broad Street corridor.
Prairie Township Board of Trustees Chairman, Steve Kennedy on the groundbreaking:
“This is an exciting day for the township. This is by far the largest project that the township has
even undertaken. It will be a great benefit to the physical health and economic health of the
community. The Prairie Township Board of Trustees is proud to be a part of such a great and
exciting project.”
Please check out our website for Community Center updates
http://prairietownship.org/html/community_recreation_center.html
13
2013 Annual Report - Zoning Department
Introduction
The Zoning Department’s goals are to serve the residents of Prairie Township, enforce Prairie
Township’s land use regulations and improve residents quality of life by helping to maintain suitable
standards.
• The office administers and enforces the townships land use laws.
•
Facilitates operations of the townships commercial building department and all preliminary plan
review for commercial development
•
Facilitates and maintains the nuisance abatement program
•
Department budget
Department Funding Sources
In 2013, $304,538.51 was spent out of the General Fund appropriations. Of this, $165,301.40 was
reimbursed to the General Fund from the following sources:
$9,027.00 was reimbursed through nuisance assessments
$28,654.86 was reimbursed through zoning fees
$127,619.54 was reimbursed through building fees
Zoning Revenue
$9,027.00 , 3%
$139,237.11 ,
46%
$28,654.86 ,
9%
Nuisance Assessments
$127,619.54 ,
42%
Zoning Fees
Building Fees
General Fund
14
2013 Priorities and Projects
•
Nuisance Abatement Program provides some stability to township neighborhoods that would
otherwise have areas deteriorating due to a large number of blighted and/or vacant properties.
This program is used to identify and minimize the adverse effect these properties have to
adjoining property owners (and the township as a whole) by addressing, accessing and abating
each one individually. This process is driven by a “complaint basis only” program and it
continues to target problems that would otherwise be left to absentee landlords or banks of
foreclosed and abandoned properties to do nothing. There is an increasing amount of
reoccurring problems each year that have to be maintained on a (12) month schedule. The
notification timeframes were adopted by state law to expedite this process however when you
are dealing with several hundred it takes a lot of attention to maintain its accuracy.
•
NPDES Land Disturbance Regulations were adopted by resolution to control soil erosion and fill
and to help preserve the waterways within the Township. Land disturbance activity require
permits be obtained in the unincorporated areas of the township that is not being us for
agricultural purposes. The NPDES permit requires storm water pollution plans per EPA
standards and BMP practices on all activity on one acre or more.
•
Although all projects regardless of size must utilize BMP’s to minimize erosion and
sedimentation. Soon after the adoption of this resolution Prairie Township has had two
development sites fall under these guidelines in 2013 and both are still under construction.
Alton Hall Elementary School and West Broad Church of the Nazarene.
Annual Spring Clean-Up- with a budget of $5,000.00 the department operates an annual
township wide clean-up program that encourages residents to discard solid waste, tires and
other debris from their homes and yards. With assistance from SWACO, Liberty Tire and as
always the Prairie Township Road Department this program is popular among the residents and
is a benefit to the community. Last year with the budget and 7tipping passes donated by
SWACO we removed 49.9 tons of solid waste and 13.4 tons of tires from Prairie Township.
WRAP-UP REPORT FOR 2013 ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN-UP
3- 30 Yard Trash Dumpsters (at Inah Fire House, Hubbard Fire House & Road Dept.)
TOTAL TRASH DUMPED = 49.91 TONS
1- 30 Yard Tire Dumpster (at Road Dept.)
TOTAL TIRES DUMPED = 13.4 TONS
TOTAL MONEY SPENT = $ 4,912.80
15
•
Zoning/Commercial Building Department - to assist and facilitate applicants through the permit
process whether small or difficult and lengthy. This past year was a very busy time for the
office. It started early with preliminary development meetings with South Western City Schools
and providing assistance for (4) new schools to be built in Prairie Township (2) new restaurants
placed at the gateway to the township on W. Broad Street and (1) new church in the Darby
Accord Watershed. The zoning office worked early on with the developers of both McDonalds
and Raising Canes to ensure increased initiatives were secured for landscaping and entry
features to ensure precedent setting standards. The check list from last year was used to
identify the required reviews, meetings, department approvals and all the permits that were
needed for (1) of the (4) schools and the church based on their geography. Each project
required additional reviews for NPDES permits and/or inspections from other agencies such as
Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation and/or EPA.
•
Nuisances – last year the Zoning Department processed 256 nuisance complaints resulting in 82
nuisance abatements out of the 176 that were declared a nuisance by the Board of Trustees.
That number has doubled from last year’s 41 abated properties. 36 of the 82 abated were reoccurring nuisance problems during the year. The chart below captures nuisance assessment
and payment data. This revenue is divided between the General Fund and the Road
Department.
50000
Nuisance Assessments and Payments
45000
40000
35000
30000
Assessments
25000
Payments
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
16
Statistics for Zoning Department
2012
Zoning Permits
182
Building Permits
67
Variance
10
2013
147
76
12
Revenue
$28,654.86
$127,619.54
Expenses
$23,182.30
Permits Issued
1
41
12
Zoning Permits
147
76
Building Permits
Garage Sale Permits
Transient Vendor Permits
Variance Applications
17
2013 Zoning Department Expenditures
Comp of Board Members
2012
$ 2,971.49
2013
$ 4,161.37
Salaries
$154,580.49 $159,143.71
Salaries {Overtime}
$ 7,000.00
$ 5,669.73
OPERS
$19,172.55 $ 20,838.75
Medicare
$ 2,270.75
$ 2,555.00
Medical Insurance
$ 52,497.54 $ 51,703.82
Life Insurance
$ 108.90
$ 19.80
Dental Insurance
$ 2,924.22
$ 485.72
Workers Compensation
$ 2,825.22
$ 3,138.87
Engineering Services
$ 6,033.28
$ 7,519.26
Professional & Technical
$ 1,194.00
Garbage & Trash Removal $ 5,201.48
$ 4,912.80
Repairs & Maintenance
$789.08
$ 606.88
Advertising
Liability Insurance
Office Supplies
Operating Supplies
Other Expenses
Mach. Equip. & Furniture
$ $ 324.16
$ 3,212.69
$ $ 4,747.99
$ 15,585.00
$ 735.00
$ 321.80
$ 2,714.10
$ 2,859.78
$ 1,479.33
$ 748.16
Zoning Expenditures
0%
3%
2% 3% 1%
1%
Salaries, OPERS,
Medicare
Insurance
Engineering Services
19%
Trash Removal
Operating Expenses
71%
Workers Comp & Liability
Insurance
Mach., Equip & Furniture
Professional & Technical
18
2013 ZONING DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY SUMMARY
COMMERCIAL REVENUE
$127,619.54
ZONING REVENUE
$ 28,654.86
--------------$156,274.40
$ 23,182.30
---------------$133,092.10
TOTAL PAID TO ASEBROOK
BUILDING PERMITS
76
ZONING PERMITS
147
MISC. LOG REPORTS
98
VIOLATION LETTERS
95
GARAGE SALE PERMITS
41
TRANSIENT VENDOR PERMITS
1
TOTAL VARIANCE APPLICATIONS
12
TOTAL COND. USE APPLICATIONS
1
TOTAL REZONINGS
0
TOTAL APPEALS
0
TOTAL AMENDMENTS/E.U. MOD.
0
TOTAL NUISANCE CASES
256 (Processed)
176 (Declared)
82 (Abated)
19
2014 Budget Statement and Objectives
• In 2014 the Zoning & Commercial Building Department will continue its efforts to minimize
expenditures while improving service and maintaining the same fiscal responsibility exercised in
the past.
•
Work with the township to produce a fully updated zoning resolution that will guarantee
strategies and guidelines are adopted and in place that will be in line with the policies and
recommendation adopted in the Township Comprehensive Plan, Big Darby Accord Watershed
Master Plan and the Town Center Master Plan.
•
Prepare for Zoning Resolution Update – This is a major project that will be based primarily on
three 2013 initiatives: the Big Darby Town Center implementation process; the Big Darby
Conservation Zoning committee’s work; and the Prairie Township Community Improvement
Corporation’s strategic plan for eastern Prairie Township.
20
P
NAG
RA
TT
TE
A LCU
LM
IA
TORREY
W
UTHWESTERN
ROSET
ERON
EV
OWL
HOLT
KINGSFORD
M AURINE
N
SO
NORTON
CH
A
C OVINA
SON
OB
ROE
UN
D
RUN
SO
H
UT
B IG
TAM ARACK
JUNIPER
SOUT HWEST
D
EA
CARL OTTA
LAKE M
! JOHNSON
Grove City
CYPR ESS
BASSWOO D
21
BUKEY
LEWIS CENTER
C IA
EN
VA
L
BRA DSHA W
DELOWE
BLOXOM
HOTCHK ISS
KNOLL CRE S T
KUN Z
EK
B
YE
R un
TE
E
ci oto Big
CE
CR
S
CL IM
E
DEMOREST
KYGER
H
G
BY
KROPP
LE DA R
TEL
AT
PP
D
OL
AD
RUS H
GEOR GI
AN
FR
SAVAN ENCH
NA H
IE
CRE V IS
C
Y
LE
GEORG ESV
IL
HI
EN
BRA
PARRAU
BR IG
G
LY NW
ARD
MEL
Frank
Jacks lin Twp
on Tw
p
K
STE
RAILROAD
S
E
H IR
LI
DYE R
G AL
ER
D
BO LTONFIEL
AUT O M
IG
TOLB ERT
!
ER
RO
K AD E
ER
MIX
WO OD
LAW N
HIL ER
E
POS T
L
N
O
ST
A
INAH
OR
NA
G R EELEY
U RR Y
LONE EAGLE
D
N
!
N
RD
y Cre e
k
rb
O LM
Miles
R LY
RI
PE
DFS
GARDEN HEIGHTS
MA P
LE
DEE R
FIEL D
R
I
D
RB
G
E
S TU
WEST
FL
IC O
BLEDSOE
HURL OC K
WALLIN G ER
PAML
L A NCIA
PU B
ROTH R
LECLERC
E
OWA
Y
SU M T
ER
GALL
CR
O SSBR
O OK
DRAYSON
R
B
H
ILL
HARW OO D
PA RK
MA
NOR
E NA
R
ODS
WO
PAS A
D
SM IT
LE NN
H
OX
LA W
RE NC
E
FIREW
E
E RN CHES
SON T
L
O OOGU
D
U FFIN
M ILLETT
C
ALTO N
W I N ESA
ATLAS
M
U
C A PE HENR
Y
S
Columbus
ROYALTO N
Franklin County Economic Development & Planning
22 January 2014
O
NG
EAKIN
PROMI N E
R
AN
ICK
CL
U
BAUSCH
=C
I
RD
HA L
I
A
NR
HALSE Y
L
ALK IR
E
OLDANO
S
GILM
KW
CROSSWIND
SIN
SW C R O S
1
EDS O
N
C C E SS
PA
EI
RI
C
W
OOD
KO R
B AY
ICK
NW
LL
ST
R
BIG U N P ARK A
C LARE
ALL
VIA T
WE
WOOD
BU
R
P
RO
ND
LD
E
I
GF
IN
!
!
!
GA
Little Da
¯
CO
FR
Y
IL L
P
Ple rair
as ie T
an w
tT p
wp
AI
NR
E
RY
AS
O
GE
LO
§
¦
¨
KRI E GER
Y
DARBY CRE EK
RO
G
HL
R IC
GE
H UNT
LEY
D
OHARRA
E
CHE
R
h
W
HA
PAR KW
E
AR
BE
TI G
TOR
C
RU N
RO V
S AFFR O N
SU
ran
c
CH ER RY CRE E K
VIGA
A
PARKGL E N
B
RO
H
WE
NS
HE
RL
BU A
B AY T R EE
n
Ru
ek
re
L
BE
RIE
l lb
SUNDIAL
EPERNAY
GH
STG
B IERL
C
W ESL
IE
CK
KE
by
L
Dar
He
RK
Big
IR
N
y
nt
ou ty
C
n
n
ou
iso
ad lin C
M
nk
Fra
BIRCH PA
!! ! !
!
!!
!!!
!!
IFF
LL
JO
CH
IDLEY
NASBY
GRE ENHAVEN
O
ISH
PENN
MURNA
OLD HALL
IDE
KS
OO
BR
ER
V
DO
RUF FING
OD
UM
KU
O RE IL
Y
G LA R
W ARD
TISHMA N
RTH
Y
RB
E
ID
RS
N
VE R E E
DA
!
OLD
E
WE ST
R
CHA
N
GR A
G L IV
ND
WESTB E
IN TER
AL
IL
RA
GRE N
LL
ECH LE R
E
N
RIV
SQUAD
S
DOHERTY
A TE
M
RI
TRILLI
TS
ER
N
CO
MUR RAY HILL
IRIS TRA IL
R
TAMARA
E IN
S
PHILLIPI
Y
WE ST
B
WE LL ANK
B
KATA RID
RA
O
W
HL
PA RK
ER
! !
!
ANNHUR ST !
! !!
!
JANITROL
!
!
!! !
!
!
! !
!
ER
! !!
!
! ! !AM ES BU RY!! !!
!! !
N
!
NTO
U
HILL
BEACON
!!
TA
CE
!
SU RFA
!
!
! IELD
N TS
!! !!
DF
ME
!! !!
!
!
!
!
GREEN
! !!!
270
!!!
!
!
!
!
!! !! !!! !
!
S
! !
SH
!!!!!
ER
!
OP P
!
!! ! STIL
!
ES
! !!
!! !
OW E
!!
NS
!
!
!
! !
!!
!
RT
! !!
PO
!! !
AY
ST
W
E
SULL
I LE
VE
W
IVAN
!!
!
RI
T
D
! !! !! ! !
!
S
A N S TR
TI
!!
DI X A
ORA
! INDU
T
AT L A N
G
RGE SVILLE
PLAIN CITY GEO
B
RO
Columbus
EM MIT
£
¤
R ED
C RE EK
IN
P
LIN
ER
NO
40
W
ME
HIL LIARD RO
SILV E R
AR
SU M M
T
IT
R EATY
ET
M
E
AY
W
ORTLOCK
E
M
¬
«
CED
A
CON RAIL
B U SINE SS
N
FISHE
T HO R N G
!!
! ! ! !!
!
! RENAA !!
!! !
!! !
142
GAT L
RIDGE
IND
EN
T
AN Y
IN F
T
!
!
!
!
!
! ! !
!
! FEDER
AL D
P RAIRIE
!!
5 (1)
A E
RD
D
BB A
HU
!
CAN O E
!
!
TH ORN A
ATE R
LW
TIL
C LAY
B AR
CREE K
BY
AR
3 (9)
D RIV
P
DURB AN
P P LE
TW
EL
B
&D
!
COLE
E RS O
FARM BRO O K
N
C ARME
N
2 (28)
G
p
Tw
wn Twp
Bro irie
Pra
R
!
IN
LL
DE
!
W
L SO
ERS T O GLAN
Y O UN ER
Y
GE
D
TO
AL
UR
FO
1 (138)
A
ST
!
ER
KE I
WRO THS
N
TO
S
FEDER
NC
LIA
AL
WI
LI C
JONE
K
ONGA RO
LL
WE
CIDERMIL L NE S
E
IM
R
G
E
E
§
¦
¨
70
Number of violations
BIR CHW OOD
TS
ER
H
B
RO
U
TR AB
NI C K
IG
FREE
REN NER
ITHA C A
H
DEER
Prairie Township
2013 Nuisance Properties
Prairie Township Senior Center
Introduction
The Prairie Township Senior Center, located in the Lincoln Village Plaza is a social and recreation center
that provides activities for senior citizens. The center has a part-time Director, to plan and coordinate
the activities hosted by the center. The Center is also staffed with volunteers to ensure that the center
can remain open during its normal posted hours. In addition, Weight Watchers holds regular meeting at
the center. The Prairie Township Senior Association, a non-profit corporation, was formed in 2004 to
assist with fundraising to help cover some of the centers expenses. Some of the activities that take
place at the senior center are:
•
•
•
•
•
Daily exercise classes
Monthly potluck
“Lunch Bunch”
Seminars on various topics (open to the public)
Lunch and Learn (for member only)
A monthly newsletter and calendar detailing the events at the Senior Center are available
at www.prairietownship.org
2013
The Senior Center brought in revenue during the year 2013 from membership dues as well as rent from
Weight Watchers. The Senior Center currently has 252 members, of which 45 were new to the center.
Membership is $15.00 annually for Prairie Township residents and $25.00 annually for non-residents.
This revenue helps to off-set the expenditures of the center.
22
There were many exciting things going on at the center this year, including a float that the members
made for the 4th of July Parade and the 9th annual Craft Bazaar, which was held in November. The center
also hosted 12 monthly potlucks. The center, along with AARP provided donation based tax preparation
services for 400 people. Diabetes support and grief counseling services were also added at the center.
The center and its members also collected food throughout the year for the Westland Food Pantry and
collected for the Toys for Tots program.
Revenue/Expenditures Report
In addition to the membership fees and Weight Watchers rent revenue, the PSA contributes to the
Senior Center. The PSA raises money through various fund raisers and contributes approximately
$5,000.00 to the Senior Center for various items such as furniture, operating supplies, etc.
2012
2013
Revenue
Charges for Services (Rents and Lease)
Charges for Services (Misc)
TOTALS
$ 22,960.00
$ 690.00
$ 23,650.00
$ 21,030.00
$ 685.00
$ 21,715.00
Expenditures
Salaries
OPERS
Medicare
Workers Compensation
Rents and Leases
Repairs and Maintenance
Utilities
Contracted Services
Liability Insurance Premiums
Office Supplies
Operating Supplies
Other-other Expenses
Machinery, Equipment and Furniture
TOTALS
$ 22,028.01
$ 2,525.55
$ 300.99
$ 398.10
$ 42,295.42
$ 3,424.80
$ 9,246.03
$ 4,500.00
$ 100.00
$ 894.34
$ 760.11
$ 298.47
$ $ 86,771.82
$ 25,539.31
$ 2,815.81
$ 195.05
$ 481.56
$ 44,278.15
$ $ 9,324.33
$ 5,300.00
$ 99.53
$ 1,594.84
$ 487.91
$ 803.16
$ 2,354.84
$ 93,274.49
23
Senior Center Funding
22%
1%
Rents and Leases
Memberships
77%
General Fund
Contribution
2014 Budget Statement
The Senior Center is expected to run with standard operating expenses in 2014.
The lease for the Senior Center space is through 5/31/2015. The Senior Center will stay in its current
location at Lincoln Village Plaza through the end of the current lease. There are no plans for facilities
upgrades for the remainder of the lease. The Senior Center will be moved into the new
Community/Recreation Center once complete.
24
25
2013 Annual Report- Road, Cemetery and Parks
Introduction
The Roads, Cemetery and Parks Department is staffed by one full-time Superintendent,
five full-time employees, and one part-time employee. Some of the functions of the
department include:
•
Evaluate and maintain approximately 56 miles of township roads, this includes
maintaining the storm sewer system and all of the signage along these roads.
•
Maintain four cemeteries two active and two in-active.
•
Maintain five township parks and several open space areas.
•
Operate the chipping program and the leaf program.
•
Support the nuisance process.
•
Purchase and maintain fleet of vehicles and equipment.
•
Budget and appropriate various funds.
26
Department Funding Sources
•
Motor Vehicle License Tax Fund: 5% collected from motor vehicle registration
and renewal fees, throughout the state that goes to township based on their portion
of road mileage.
•
Gasoline Tax Fund: 6% of the state collected per gallon tax is distributed to
townships. The distribution is based on number of motor vehicle registrations and
township lane miles.
•
Road and Bridge Fund:
•
Cemetery Fund: fees from sale of graves, opening and closing fees and foundation
fees.
•
Permissive Motor Vehicle License Tax: $5.00 levied by the township and $3.00
of the $10.00 levied by the county goes to the township for a total of $8.00 per
vehicle.
•
Road District Fund: transferred from the general fund
•
Parks Capital Fund: transferred from the general fund
•
Sidewalk Program Fund: transferred from the general fund
•
General Fund Parks: a sub category of the general fund
•
General Fund Leaf and Chipping: a sub category of the general fund
27
Revenue Sources
$124,879.52 ,
14%
$131,071.11 , $21,249.64
, 2%
14%
$129,956.99
, 14%
MVLT
Gas Tax
Road & Bridge
$125,659.15 ,
13%
$390,216.42 ,
43%
Cemetery
Permissive MVLT
General Fund
Contribution
2013 Priorities and Projects
•
Annual Road Maintenance Project: This process starts with the superintendent
reviewing and evaluating all township roads. A wish list is submitted to the
county engineer for an estimate. This list is prioritized to coincide with the
amount the trustees transfer from the general fund to the road district fund. The
county engineer combines Prairie’s list with the other participating county
townships and put them out for formal bidding. The county engineer oversees the
whole project. The following roads had maintenance performed under this
contract in 2013: Azalee Court, Crestridge Court, Lakefield Drive and Redmond
Road
•
Annual Crack Seal Program: This program started in 2009 and is done in house
with township road department employees. The township purchases the product
from DJL Material & Supply and in return DJL provides the machine and
performs all maintenance on the machine. The following roads received
maintenance in 2013: None
•
Annual Sidewalk Program: This program started in 2003. Any resident can get on
the list for a quote for work either on their sidewalk, driveway approach or curb as
long as it is in the townships ROW. The first several years the work was
performed by the contractor who received the annual road contract through the
county engineer. The last two years the township has sought out pricing from
local contractors for the work. If the resident agrees with the quote they have two
payment options. The first and most popular is to allow the township to pay for
the work and then assess their property taxes over ten years interest free. The
second is to pay up front for the work.
28
•
Sign Replacement: Once a year a township employee drives all township roads
and compiles a list of signs that have lost their reflectivity. The signs are ordered
at that point and replaced.
•
Cemeteries: The Township has two active cemeteries Alton and Galloway. There
were no cemetery fee increases in 2013. Both cemeteries combined average
approximately 85 burials per year. Mowing, trimming, recordkeeping and footer
installation are the other functions of maintaining the cemeteries. The two inactive cemeteries are Alton M.E. and Clover Cemetery. Alton Cemetery 59 graves
were sold in 2013 16 to residents and 43 to non-residents. There were 68 burials
in 2013: 17 resident burials 8 during the week, 6 on Saturday, 1 on a holiday and
2 Saturday cremation burials. 51 non-resident burials 39 during the week, 7 on
Saturday, 4 weekday cremation burials and 1 Saturday cremation burial.
Galloway Cemetery 11 graves were sold in 2013 3 to residents and 8 to nonresidents. There were 21 burials in 2013: 8 resident burials 7 during the week and
1 cremation burial. 13 non-resident burials 10 during the week and 3 cremation
burials.
•
Parks: The Township has five parks currently with some sort of play equipment or
facilities. In 2012 a parks capital fund was established. The township purchased
11 acres of land on Galloway Road for future park development.
•
Chipping Program: This is a new program initiated by the trustees. It was kicked
off in January of 2012 with a Christmas tree Recycling Program. The program
runs all year long. Residents can request the chipper by calling the township or
after major storm events the Township checks all of the roads.
•
Leaf Program: This is an old program that was revived by the trustees. The
program started October 15th and will run through the first of December. The
township has been split into nine areas that are rotated through continually. Daily
updated on leaf pick up progress are available on our website
at www.prairietownship.org
•
Nuisance Program: The Road Departments portion of this program consists of
evaluating the property after proper notification as to whether it is still a nuisance.
If the property owner fails to clean up the property, the road department will abate
the nuisance.
•
OPWC Projects: Construction for the road improvement projects for Beacon Hill
Road and Woodlawn Avenue were started in 2013. Both projects are
approximately 95% complete. No new projects have been funded from the OPWC
during the last 2 rounds of applications/submittals.
29
2013 Revenues & Expenditures
•
In 2013 the combined revenue (not including General Fund contributions for
leaf/chipping and parks) was $791,961.72. The expenses were $709,118.27.
•
In 2013, the five main funds that the Road Department operates out of had
brought in $82,843.45 more that it has spent.
Revenue and Expenditures
$400,000.00
$300,000.00
$200,000.00
$100,000.00
$-
Revenue
Expenditures
Expenditures
2%
0%
2%
2%
Insurance
1% 1%
Workers Comp & Liability
Insurance
16%
Operating Supplies
52%
11%
11%
2%
Salaries, OPERS, Medicare
Mach., Equip. & Furniture
Tax Collection Fees
Utilities
Contracted Services
Other
Principal Payments
*includes General Fund contributions for Leaf & Chipping and Parks
30
2014 Budget Statement
•
Have revenues exceed expenditures
•
Continue to provide quality services to township residents
•
Develop Capital Improvement Plan
•
Continue to gather information about cemetery trends to establish when and
where to purchase land for expansion.
31
REVENUE
Fund 2011 - Motor Vehicle License Tax
Motor Vehicle License Tax
Interest
Fund 2021 - Gasoline Tax
Gasoline Tax
Interest
Fund 2031 - Road and Bridge
General Property Tax
Tangible Personal Property Tax
Other-Charges for service
Federal Funds
Property Tax Allocation
Other - State Receipts
Other-Special Assessments
Other-Miscellaneous non-operating
Sale of Fixed Assets
2013
$
$
Total $
2012
19,724.35 $
69.23 $
19,793.58 $
$
$
Total $
2012
116,454.19 $
171.16 $
116,625.35 $
2013
129,155.01
801.98
129,956.99
2012
237,264.36
47.06
9,048.62
38,676.02
15,035.59
980.52
2013
243,798.12
31.76
8,500.00
6,678.00
36,930.85
1,113.00
19,246.90
3,917.79
70,000.00
390,216.42
2013
$
$
$
$
Total $
2012
47,337.80
12,706.20
70,800.00
5,995.00
136,839.00
$
$
$
$
$
50,750.00
12,439.80
61,800.00
669.35
125,659.15
$
$
$
$
Total $
2012
114,641.40
200.95
114,842.35
$
$
$
$
$
2013
123,443.07
767.10
669.35
124,879.52
689,152.45 $
791,961.72
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Total $
Fund 2041 - Cemetery
Fees
Other-Licenses, Permit and Fees
Sale of Cemetery Lots
Other-Miscellaneous non-operating
Fund 2231 - Permissive MVL Tax
Permissive MVL Tax
Interest
Other-Miscellaneous non-operating
5 FUND TOTAL
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
301,052.17 $
21,045.27
204.37
21,249.64
32
EXPENDITURES
Fund 2011 - Motor Vehicle License Tax
Salaries
Salaries - Overtime
OPERS
Medicare
Medical Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental Insurance
Contracted Services
Fund 2021 - Gasoline Tax
Salaries
Salaries - Overtime
OPERS
Medicare
Medical Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental Insurance
Contracted Services
Operating Supplies
Fund 2031 - Road and Bridge
Salaries
Salaries - Overtime
OPERS
Medicare
Medical Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental Insurance
Workers Compensation
Tax Collection Fees
Repairs & Maintenance
Utilities
Contracted Services
Liability Insurance
Operating Supplies
Supplies and Materials
Other Expenses
Machinery, Equipment and Furniture
Principal Payments
2012
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Total $
10,650.00
780.00
1,470.00
169.00
3,930.00
7.20
186.00
2,000.00
19,192.20
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Total $
2012
71,000.00
5,200.00
9,800.00
1,120.00
26,200.00
48.00
1,240.00
20,000.00
20,000.00
154,608.00
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2012
129,337.67
2,614.73
11,969.87
1,836.64
18,650.84
86.40
1,938.20
4,856.72
4,156.21
6,372.87
11,781.90
10,000.00
7,903.53
29,793.29
29,699.50
1,445.53
3,911.61
Total $
2013
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
12,000.00
1,500.00
1,600.00
200.00
3,240.00
3,655.76
22,195.76
2013
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
59,481.87
6,600.00
10,600.00
946.20
21,600.00
39.60
3,291.60
22,477.54
125,036.81
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
276,355.51 $
2013
110,400.00
4,819.37
12,544.90
1,770.00
17,061.11
3,209.03
4,500.00
4,777.43
12,297.88
301.30
2,312.13
11,239.95
34,288.26
1,820.57
101,973.25
16,117.40
339,432.58
33
Fund 2041 - Cemetery
Salaries
Salaries - Overtime
OPERS
Medicare
Medical Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental Insurance
Workers Compensation
Repairs & Maintenance
Utilities
Contracted Services
Liability Insurance
Operating Supplies
Other Expenses
Improvement of Sites
Machinery, Equipment and Furniture
Fund 2231 - Permissive MVL Tax
Salaries
Salaries - Overtime
OPERS
Medicare
Medical Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental Insurance
Workers Compensation
Contracted Services
Liability Insurance
Operating Supplies
Buildings
Machinery, Equipment and Furniture
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2012
71,000.00
2,361.49
9,800.00
1,120.00
26,200.00
48.00
1,240.00
1,328.21
1,112.56
424.55
5,772.30
$
$
$
$
Total $
9,692.18
7,545.00
8,906.00
146,550.29
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2012
71,000.00
2,124.66
9,800.00
1,120.00
26,200.00
48.00
1,240.00
$
$
$
$
Total $
2013
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,473.25 $
2,136.38 $
$
115,142.29 $
55,200.00
4,950.00
7,950.00
839.00
16,200.00
1,124.57
476.00
358.50
7,035.30
2,767.00
10,000.00
1,240.88
3,000.00
111,141.25
2013
55,200.00
4,833.72
7,950.00
848.51
11,501.91
2,288.23
2,336.50
2,767.00
5,000.00
18,586.00
111,311.87
34
Chris R . Snyder, Chief
The 2013 Chief’s Report
2013 has been met with many changes within the Fire Department. The retirement of Chief
Stephen Feustel on June 6, 2013 brought a change in administration. He ended his honorable
service to Prairie Township after serving as a part time member beginning in 1981 through 1984
while also serving with the Grandview Heights Fire Department where he eventually attained the
rank of Asst. Chief. He then came to Prairie Township Fire Department in April of 2004 as
Chief of the department, serving in that capacity until his retirement. Steve’s commitment to the
fire department’s budget left the department in a good position with his long term financial
planning scenarios. I was appointed as his successor, serving 3 ½ years as Assistant Chief and
another 27 years in various capacities with the Prairie Township Fire Department. I am honored
and privileged to have received this appointment and have ambitious intentions relating to the
future of this department and our community. We have a great staff that is always prepared and
willing to reach out and provide a great service to you and your loved ones in the time of need.
Technology topped the list of improvements to the department this year. 2013 began with a new
EMS reporting software package. The switch was made from our old system, FireHouse
Software, to the new software package, Rescue Medic. This brought more reliability and
dependability along with a much greater user friendly product for our EMS members who
reported nearly 4,000 EMS runs. New hardware was also made possible through an agreement
with our billing company. A new software package was put in place with our Zoning
Department that allows our Fire Marshal’s Office to integrate our records. We have now become
a paperless reporting department. Email was established as the primary form of communication
within the fire department with all members having a department email account. New phone
systems were purchased for both stations with a 34 month return on our investment due to the
ability to reconfigure our incoming phone lines.
35
A new merit based hiring practice was built within the department that test fulltime candidates
on their knowledge and tactical skills. Our fulltime candidates come from our part-time ranks.
This allows us to observe their qualities and work on their weaknesses prior to them being
offered fulltime employment. FF Evan Strauss, the first candidate of the newly established
process, was hired in August to fill a vacancy. A new testing process was conducted for parttime firefighters, establishing a new list of candidates to fill vacancies as they occur. Our
promotional process was completed for Lieutenants and Captains using new criteria that had
each of the passing candidates evaluated by neutral parties who were well renowned in their
specific testing areas. We were able to do this much more economically than some of the
established testing programs that provide a very similar service.
I have put a strong focus on customer service. We have explored different avenues to become
engaged in our community. We are members of several service organizations and serve on
several boards within Prairie Township and the surrounding area. A new program was started to
involve the youth of our community along with their parents in a Reading with the Firefighters
Program. It allows us to influence the importance of reading to our younger generation by
engaging them with our fire fighters on a regular basis while also giving them an opportunity to
learn more about us and what we do. My hat goes off to FF Matt Powers of coming up with the
thought, taking advantage of an opportunity and developing this program into what it has
become. I will continue to extend opportunities to our firefighters to engage with the
community.
Training continues to be a strong focus for our department in EMS and Fire. We continue to
strive to be the best we can be to serve you in your time of need. Plans were put in place this
year to begin Core Competency Evaluations for all of our members in EMS and fire for 2014.
This will identify deficiencies to focus on improvement. At Prairie, we are fortunate to have a
training tower at our Inah Ave. location that allows us to train on our tactical skills at any given
time.
Financially we ended 2013 with a cash balance of $1,403,817.77 in the fire fund and
$470,577.61 in the EMS Fund. While the EMS fund saw a decrease in revenues, the fire fund
saw an increase. As far as expenditures, both funds saw a decrease, $115,037 in the fire fund
and $26,265 in the EMS fund. Our overall financial picture shows an annual collective increase
of $432,905.30 in our cash balance at the end of 2013 as compared to January 1, 2013. Currently
our 2014 temporary appropriations are reflecting a decrease of $802.244.40. Long range
forecasting as to the life of the levy and capital improvement purchases is currently underway
and planned to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2014. Until this planning is
complete long range commitments will be limited.
This represents a few snapshots of what has and is happening at the Prairie Township Fire
Department. We are honored to serve you and look forward to 2014 as we continue to progress
individually and professionally.
36
Fire Department Introduction
Prairie Township Fire Department is comprised of 29 full time firefighters and officers, all of
which maintain a Paramedic status. We presently have 32 part-time firefighters that help us
sustain two extra positions for each day of the week as well as fill-in for vacancies due to
vacation, sick leave, etc. Prairie Township is also the last Fire Department in the Central Ohio
area that has dedicated Fire Dispatchers. We maintain four fulltime dispatchers and four parttime.
All of these positions are housed within two structures: 123 Inah Ave. is the Main Station
(Station 241) and 451 Hubbard Rd. (Station 243). We have EMS training the 3rd Tuesday of
every month so all members receive enough EMS training to maintain their State certifications.
The lectures are taught by Doctors, Emergency Nurses and MedFlight personnel, etc. all within a
licensed training institution that allows us to meet the State of Ohio requirements for training.
The departments primary service area is unincorporated Prairie Township, which covers 18.82
square miles, of which 60+% is rural and without a hydrant system. Station 241 operates a
Medic, Engine, Ladder, Tanker and Air Supply. The Fire Chief and Fire Marshal is stationed out
of this location as well. Station 243 operates as an either/or station with four personnel who
operate as a Medic, Engine or Grassfighter.
We have Mutual Aid agreements with all of our surrounding departments, including Columbus
Fire. Our runs volume has seen an increase due to the limited automatic area agreements with
Columbus Fire. We accepted this increase to offset the length of time it takes for us to respond
to Galloway and the southern parts of our Township as well as those areas North of the railroad
tracks. Columbus Fire has Station 31 at Bolton Field that is less than a mile from downtown
Galloway and Station 26 which sits on the North side of the railroad near Hilliard-Rome Rd and
Fisher and can respond into Youngland Estates and the surrounding areas quicker than we can.
In turn, Columbus Fire has areas that can be better served by our department. Ultimately, this
provides a quicker response to those in the time of need.
As stated above, the Prairie Township Fire Department is dispatched by its own communications
department. The communications department currently consists of three full time dispatchers, a
supervisor and four part time dispatchers providing service 24/7, 365 days a year. Besides call
taking, Dispatchers are responsible for entering the initial information for all fire and EMS runs.
They also log fuel usage, scan, copy and record invoices, schedule fire prevention classes and
maintain records.
37
2013 Revenue and Expenditures
In 2013, Fire Fund revenues, in the amount of $4,430,301.58, accounted for 89% of the department’s
revenues, while the EMS Fund Revenues, in the amount of $543,054.95, accounted for the remaining
11%. Below is a breakdown on the combined sources of revenue that contribute to the Fire Department
from the Fire Fund and the EMS Fund.
The Fire Department depends upon having skilled, professional firefighters and EMT’s on duty 24/7. As
a result, the Department’s expenses are primarily for salaries and benefits. The 2013 breakdown of these
and other expenses by fund are as follows:
Fire Fund Revenue
General Property Tx - Real Estate
TPP - Gifts and Donations
Other - Lic, Permits, Fees
Property Tax Allocation
Gifts and Donations
Other - Miscellaneous
Sale of Fixed Assets
Total Fire Revenue
$3,810,576.25
$527.27
$17,455.69
$574,360.68
$303.55
$9,103.24
$17,974.88
$4,430,301.56
General Property Tx - Real
Estate
TPP - Gifts and Donations
Other - Lic, Permits, Fees
Property Tax Allocation
Gifts and Donations
Other - Miscellaneous
38
2013 Fire Expenses
Salaries - Fire Department
FF Overtime
Dispatcher Salary
Dispatcher OT
Part-Time Salaries
Ohio Public Employees Retirement
Social Security
Medicare
Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund
Medical/Hospitalization Insurance
Life Insurance
Dental Insurance
Workers' Compensation
Legal Fees - External Law Firm
Tax Collection Fees
Training Services
IT Computer Services
Repairs and Maintenance
Other - Utilities
Contracted Services
Liability Insurance Premiums
Office Supplies
Operating Supplies
Other - Supplies and Materials
Dues and Fees
Other Expenses
Buildings
Machinery, Equipment, Furniture
Transfers Out
Advances Out
Total
$2,087,377.76
$29,928.95
$173,737.42
$9,330.30
$265,792.89
$24,086.84
$15,959.04
$38,764.46
$520,535.17
$524,056.76
$211.20
$5,547.96
$66,955.97
$6,048.43
$61,885.96
$13,467.99
$0.00
$31,752.37
$42,500.00
$26,757.38
$23,496.79
$3,323.27
$41,201.97
$25,797.92
$1,650.50
$10,392.00
$0.00
$12,245.31
$4,062,804.61
Salaries
$4,062,804.61
Benefits, Pension, Etc.
Workers Comp, Liability Ins.,
Legal, Tax Coll
Operating Expenses
39
EMS Revenue
Contracts for Emergency Medical Service
$537,016.59
State Receipts
$0.00
Intergovernmental Receipts
$5,400.00
Other
$638.36
Sale of Fixed Assests
$0.00
Total Revenue
$543,054.95
EMS Expenses
Salaries
$223,429.04
Salries - OT
$1,405.98
Medicare
$3,289.16
Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund
$49,523.44
Medical/Hospitalization Insurance
$46,351.50
Life Insurance
$13.20
Dental Insurance
Workers Comp
$427.04
$3,280.03
Training Services
$743.00
Other-Prof. and Tech Services
$13,474.91
Repairs and Maintenance
$15,405.46
Other - Utilities
$4,430.56
Contracted Services
$69,839.27
Operating Supplies
$59,973.63
Other Expenses
$10,000.00
Machinery, Equipment, Furniture
$10,128.80
Transfers Out
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$0.00
$511,715.02
EMS
Expenses
Salaries
Benefits, Pension, Etc.
Workers Comp
Operating Expenses
Training
40
2013 PTFD EMS Highlights
 EMS responded to 3,952 calls – this is an increase of 274 runs from 2012.
 Secured two grants;
o State Board of EMS - $4,500.00
o Aladdin Shriner’s Grant - $12,788.00
 Hosted 7th Annual CE Madness week in partnership with Doctor’s Hospital.
 Conducted 4 Airway procedure Labs for Grant/Lifelink Paramedic School.
 Conducted Doctor’s Hospital EMS Residents Extrication and Airway Training Class.
 Three Lifepac 15 EKG Monitors purchased and placed in service – (this is cutting edge
technology for pre hospital monitoring of cardiac EKG’s with electronic transmitting to
ED, also monitors; carbon dioxide, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, pulse and level of
carbon monoxide in the blood stream.)
 Two Lucas devices purchased and placed in service – (automated chest compression
machine for cardiac arrest patients.)
 Conducted Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) recertification class.
 Prairie Township Fire assisted Doctor’s Hospital, through education and pre-hospital
survey, to receive their Cardiac Care Accreditation II certification.
 Conducted two Active School Shooter/Large scale multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional
drills with Westland High School and Southwestern City Schools faculty.
 Conducted and hosted numerous multi-jurisdictional training events.
 Conducted 12 inner-departmental EMS training sessions.
41
2013 EMS District Report
Brown Twp
Columbus
Franklin Twp
Grove City / Jackson Twp
Jefferson Twp
London
Norwich Twp
Plain City
Pleasant Twp
Prairie Twp
Scioto Twp
Not Specified
9
1118
67
16
97
1
30
3
13
2528
3
64
Total Incident Count
3949
Brown Twp
Columbus
Franklin Twp
Grove City / Jackson Twp
Jefferson Twp
London
Norwich Twp
Plain City
Pleasant Twp
Prairie Twp
Scioto Twp
Not Specified
42
2013 Call Times By Minute Breakdown
Response Time
Number
0 to 2 Minutes
359
2 to 4 Minutes
879
4 to 6 Minutes
548
6 to 8 Minutes
234
8 to 9 Minutes
82
9 to 10 Minutes
37
10 to 12 Minutes
40
12 to 14 Minutes
15
14 to 16 Minutes
9
16 to 18 Minutes
5
18 to 20 Minutes
2
Totals
2213
0 to 2 Minutes
2 to 4 Minutes
4 to 6 Minutes
6 to 8 Minutes
8 to 9 Minutes
9 to 10 Minutes
10 to 12 Minutes
12 to 14 Minutes
14 to 16 Minutes
16 to 18 Minutes
43
Prairie Township, Ohio
Hospital - 2013 Destination Report
Destination
Count
Doctors Hospital - West
1613
Dublin Methodist Hospital
7
Grant Medical Center
67
Madison County Hospital
2
Mount Carmel East Hospital
2
Mounty Carmel Medical Center
25
Mt. Carmel West
258
Nationwide Childrens Hospital
124
Ohio State Univ. Medical Center
55
OSU East
1
Other
3
Riverside Methodist Hospital
57
St. Anns Hospital
3
Station 241
1
Doctors Hospital - West
Dublin Methodist Hospital
Grant Medical Center
Madison County Hospital
Mount Carmel East
Hospital
Mounty Carmel Medical
Center
44
2013 Day of week with most calls
Day of week
Run Count
Sunday
571
Monday
559
Tuesday
554
Wednesday
569
Thursday
548
Friday
606
Saturday
521
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
45
Fire Prevention-Fire Marshal Altomare
There are over 500 inspections that are conducted annually. This is including re-inspections and
special inspections. All assemblies are inspected two times with multiple re-inspections as
needed. Renovations were again completed at Doctor’s Hospital. Many new businesses moved
into the Township including Raising Cane’s, Title Max, and Loan Max.
New inspection software was purchased and implemented in November. This software will be
used exclusively in 2014.
The “Reading with a Fire Fighter Program” was also developed and implemented in 2013 by
Fire Fighter Matt Powers. FF Powers conducts one hour sessions weekly reading to the children
of Prairie Township and the surrounding areas. Station tours and fire safety education is also
provided at this time.
Training Completed: Over thirty hours of Fire Inspector training was completed as well as over
sixty hours of Investigator training in 2013. Thirty-eight fire prevention/fire safety classes were
conducted in 2013. Twenty nine hundred students were taught about fire safety. This was an
increase of 16 classes and 700 students. Two adult education classes were conducted and one
English as a Second Language, ESL, fire safety talk was given.
Fire Incidents
The Prairie Township Fire Department responded to 658 fire incidents in 2013. Responses
ranged from structure fires, explosions, rescues, hazardous conditions, service calls, good intent
calls, false alarms, severe weather and special incidents/complaints. We responded to 79 fires
with 42 being in the Prairie Township. By law all fires are investigated. Twenty nine of the
forty two required investigation from the Prairie Township Fire Marshal. Seven of the fires are
currently still under investigation with five being ruled arson.
46
47
48
49
50