City Votes to Send Proposal to Mill Hall Borough to Provide Fire Services

By Christopher Miller

LOCK HAVEN – Lock Haven city council spoke at length Monday evening about a three year proposed intergovernmental agreement with Mill Hall Borough to provide fire protection services to the borough beginning January 1.

The proposal states that the borough will pay the city $32,350 annually (the equivalent to a 0.5 mill FIre Tax on the assessed taxable value of property in Mill Hall Borough) with any Volunteer Firefighters Relief funds received by the borough for fire protection services. Of the $32,350, the city would disburse 25% to Citizens Hose Company and 25% to Eastside Fire Rescue. The remainder would be divided up with 25% going to an apparatus replacement account to be held in the name of the city and to be used by the fire department, and the remaining 25% for administrative costs.

The fee would be derived from either a dedicated 0.5 mill Fire Tax or taken directly from the general funds.

Also in the agreement, the city would commit to obtaining two additional engine tankers and using its best efforts to store at least one of them, if possible both, at the Mill Hall Borough building.

As well, the city would amend its code of ordinances to create a third fire district to include the borough, appointing a District Chief from the membership of each of the two city fire companies with preferences given. to a resident of the borough who meets the qualifications.

Councilman Steve Stevenson brought up the notion that the 50/50 split between Citizens Hose and Eastside doesn’t seem accurate, citing that it should be closer to “40/10” or “45/5” in Citizens’ favor between the two.

Tami Brannan of CIty Council added that if the reassessed value of property in Mill Hall Borough is higher than what is estimated, that the city should, “want that higher amount.”

Councilman Jeff Brinker opposed the matter, adding that if the city was only “doing it for a couple of years, buying a couple of fire trucks is a big investment for the city.”

“Can we borrow theirs (Mill Hall Borough),” Brinker asked.

“If we purchase two new trucks we would lose more than we would have gained.”

Both Jeff Brinker and Steve Stevenson voted against the measure.

The proposal will now rest with Mill Hall Borough to review.
Mill Hall Borough will meet next on Tuesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m.