Council News

Crooksville Council Considers New Fire/EMS Member

10/13/25

At the October 13th Crooksville Council meeting, Mayor Mohler and council members welcomed Joanna Gillman, who expressed interest in joining the village’s Fire/EMS Department.

Gillman, who is dual-carded as a 240 medic, was met with unanimous approval from council members. The decision to officially add her to the department will be placed on next week’s agenda for formal approval.

Her addition would further strengthen the Fire/EMS team as the department continues to expand and modernize its operations.

Fire/EMS Class Policy Discussed: Participation Required for Training Costs 10/13/25

Council also reviewed a proposal for a new Fire/EMS training agreement designed to ensure accountability for department-funded education.

Administrator Lacey Tumblin explained that council requested a discussion about setting clear guidelines for payment of Fire and EMS courses.

Fire Chief Dyral Newlon stated that a written contract would be required for anyone receiving department-paid training. Under the proposed agreement, participants must take part in at least 10% of fire runs and 8 hours of EMS runs.

If a participant fails to complete a course after registering, they would be personally responsible for covering the cost.

A participation policy will be submitted to Solicitor Jan Baughman for review and potential approval at next week’s meeting.

Fire Department Pursues Multiple Grants for Equipment and Safety Gear 10/13/25

Crooksville Fire Chief Newlon shared several grant updates during the meeting.

The department has applied for several funding opportunities, including:

• $6,500 Firefighters Charitable Grant for new PPE

• $7,500 Marks Grant for user fees and pagers

• $20,000 Enbridge Gas Grant for PPE

• $15,000 Erie Insurance Grant for firehose replacement

Newlon noted that these grants are vital to maintaining safety standards and keeping the department properly equipped without overburdening local taxpayers.

Engine 213 May Be Retired: Council Weighs Costs and Benefits

10/13/25

Discussion turned to the condition of Engine 213, a fire truck requiring significant repairs.

Chief Newlon provided an initial estimate of $16,250, noting that the true cost could rise once a full inspection is completed.

Council Member Redfern shared that after speaking with experts, he believes the best course of action may be to remove the truck from service, strip it for parts, and sell it.

Council requested a detailed estimate that includes potential unknown costs, marked with question indicators, to fully understand the financial impact before making a final decision.

Wilson Property Improvements Noted; No Timeline Set for Move-Out 10/13/25

Village officials praised the progress made on the Wilson property, which has undergone visible improvements in recent weeks.

Mrs. Tumblin noted that village workers have invested significant effort into cleanup and that Mr. Wilson is actively working on removing remaining items from the property.

She added that it would not be fair to impose a move-out timeline at this stage, as no such deadline was set when the property was purchased.

While Councilman Redfern suggested a one-year deadline, the majority of council members disagreed, opting to continue monitoring progress without enforcing a timeline.

Infrastructure Updates: New Utility Poles and Sewer Progress

10/13/25

Mayor Mohler reported that AEP has installed new utility poles on North Buckeye Street near the American Legion.

He is still awaiting updates from paving contractors, who previously estimated work would take place in the third or fourth week of October.

In sewer project updates, Mrs. Tumblin said the village is waiting on both the electrician and AEP before beginning a trial run scheduled for next week.

Councilman Redfern suggested repurposing existing generators by relocating them to the firehouse to replace a portable unit for emergency use.

Council Reviews Mayor’s Court Report 10/13/25

The Mayor’s Court report for September was presented to council for review and will be added to next week’s meeting agenda for formal approval.