01-05-2025
Joint fire district funds still need to be split
Funds from the former Northeast Joint Fire District still need to be split between Sheffield and Monroe townships.
Sheffield Trustee Alan Kohta, who served on the joint fire district's board, estimated there is $300,000 that needs to be divided.
The district relied on UAN, an accounting software system used by fire departments and municipalities across the state, to complete payroll.
The joint fire district was formed in 2023, and was composed of Kingsville, Monroe and Sheffield townships.
Kingsville withdrew from the district after township voters repeatedly rejected levies to fund it.
Sheffield withdrew at a Dec. 31, 2024 township meeting, then temporarily rejoined the district until March 31 to officially close it out, but district services did not resume.
The townships need access to the UAN account to distribute the funds.
Kohta said Sheffield and Monroe need to reach out to the lawyer who divided the district to see if and how checks would be made and processed, since the district is gone.
'The only thing that's left to do is get the money distributed,' he said.
Kohta said the joint fire district's former fiscal officer, Tracy Kohta, has been working with a former district computer to access the UAN software.
After the district stopped running calls, the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department reached out to the Pierpont Volunteer Fire Department, and agreed to switch 12 hour shifts monthly.
Monroe Fire Chief Jason Coy said the department's agreement with Pierpont has worked out great.
'We're doing fine,' he said. 'We're moving forward.'
Coy is thankful for the Pierpont Fire Department for the agreement, he said.
Monroe's fire department is in a better position now than in January, Coy said.
Sheffield brought back its volunteer fire department after it exited the district.
Volunteer recruitment has gone well, Sheffield Fire Chief Robert Ocasio said.
'I'm getting close to 12 so far,' he said.
Sheffield's volunteer fire department previously existed before the district's formation.
Sheffield entered into a contract with Kingsville for each to provide fire services.
Ocasio said the contract has been going well, and he has already been on some calls in Kingsville.
The Monroe Fire Department returned some gear to Sheffield that had been originally owned by Sheffield and used by the district.
Coy and Ocasio said it was turnout gear firefighters need to have when fighting fires.
Coy said Monroe ordered replacement gear.
Monroe Trustee Roger Sherman, who also served on the joint district's board, could not be reached for comment.
