Community backs rescue boat drive

CELINA - City officials applauded the community for rallying behind a proposal to purchase and equip a new rescue and recovery vessel estimated to cost $90,000.

At a recent meeting, city council members passed as an emergency measure an ordinance appropriating $80,000 from the fire capital fund to purchase an EMS boat now that nearly $50,000 in outside contributions has been secured.

The equipment will be supplied by Mercer County EMS, mayor Jeff Hazel told the newspaper on Tuesday.

Mercer County commissioners earlier this month signed off on the Mercer County EMS Advisory Board's recommendation to commit $15,000 over three years toward equipping the rescue boat. The county EMS covers about 80 percent of the lake, Celina Fire Chief Doug Wolters wrote in a letter to commissioners.

City council members also advanced to second reading numerous ordinances accepting donations toward the purchase: $2,500, three anonymous donors; $10,000, Celina Eagles 1291; $5,000, Celina VFW Post 5713; the estate of Betty D. Snider, $2,423.35; Lake Improvement Association, $5,000; Newman and Mary Clapp, $150; Pem Lincoln of Montezuma, $500; and Westfield Insurance, $9,000.

"We are just so proud of the community," Hazel said.

Wolters had told the newspaper he hopes to take possession of the boat, which will assist with rescue, medical treatment and recovery operations on Grand Lake, in October.

"We certainly appreciate council's support and all the different organizations," Wolters said at the meeting, adding the boat will provide emergency responders better access to the lake.

Wolters had said the idea for the boat, which he believes will serve the area for the next 25 years, is driven by his department's difficulty over the last few years in responding to some 911 calls. The department's only water vessel is a 12-foot inflatable boat that's impractical for rescue and recovery.

Over the last decade, 10 fatalities and nine rescue and distress calls have been reported on the lake, according to Wolters.

City council's safety services commitee members earlier this year argued that the prospect of saving lives on Grand Lake outweighs any public grumbling about spending taxpayer dollars to make the purchase.

"I really believe that by all these donations that we have indicates there was a need … and the people stepped up to fill that need," councilman June Scott said.

Hazel had been adamant that the department raise half the cost of the boat and equipment with the remaining cost to be paid through fire savings account dollars from the 0.5 percent income tax.

"As I had spoken with the chief, I said 'you've got to get over half because to me that was very important for the community to stand behind (this),' " Hazel said. "Several of the donors that I had spoke to, they gave money out of the sincere belief about how important it was to have a rescue boat on this lake."

Wolters wants to buy a "9'6'' x 25' triton with a 200 horse power motor," he wrote in a letter to commissioners, adding "The boat is to be stored at the West Bank Boat House with the approval (of) Ohio Department of Natural Resources."

Wolters said the city is willing to maintain ownership, cover maintenance costs and provide scuba divers and paramedics for any incidents on the lake.