Confusion over fire department grant

NORWALK — City council members had a lot of questions for the Norwalk Fire Department. There seems to be confusion about the bidding process, the bids themselves and concerns other departments were not involved in decision making. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program awarded to Norwalk Fire helps the department and 10 others in the county get new radios and communication equipment. Councilman Matt Doughty said there were discrepancies in the bids and a committee threw out all of the bids. The next day, the bid was awarded to Motorola. During negotiations of the grant, 10 fire departments from the county were involved, along with the Huron County Sherrif's Department and Huron County Emergency Management Agency (EMA). "The involvement of these agencies was to ensure that any communication equipment would compatible with our current and future communication infrastructure. This is especially important as recently we passed 9-1-1 levy which was meant to upgrade the county infrastructure and communication capability," he said. "The EMA and sheriff's department has brought up multiple concerns with the latest Motorola bid." Most concerning, Doughty said, is a phase 2 licensing fee that could cost the city at least $100,000. On March 30, the board of control met to discuss the AFG grant and due to significant discrepancies in the bids, law director Stu O'Hara recommended all bids be thrown out and referred back to the grant committee. The grant committee discussed things the next day and decided to award Motorola the bid. Doughty said he did not see how it was possible all 10 agencies were contacted and told the situation, or how new bids could be developed in a day. "It appears that the grant committee made the decision to take the Motorola that had just been rejected by the board of control the day before," he said. "I believe that the current purchase order should be put on hold and a meeting of the fire department and EMA should be held as soon as possible." Acting fire chief Rick Perry said negotiations were done months ago and the decision was made by all 10 departments involved in the grant. He said the sheriff's department and the EMA were invited to all of their meetings. "We went with the best deal that fit the most needs of all the departments involved," Perry said. Doughty said one of the issues with the bids is that all were very different, no company offered the same thing as the other. Perry said that some companies do not offer the same equipment or radios that can compete against other companies. He was not sure where the licensing fee would go, if it would be a one-time payment or if the city would have to pay it. He said the fee would not be covered by the grant. Council president Steve Euton asked to continue the discussion next week during council's work session at 7:30 p.m. at the Ernthausem Recreation Center. Plymouth Fire Chief Rick Metzger and Springfield Township Fire Department Chief Matt Carey both attended the council meeting and spoke in support of choosing Motorola for the bid. Perry said the grant will award 213 radios to the agencies involved, with 36 going to Norwalk. Metzger said he's still waiting for the equipment and everyone in the country was aware of what was going on. In other business: Legislation that would allow for golf carts to drive on city streets was tabled by council. Councilwoman Sharon Harwood suggested the legislation be tabled and moved to the safety committee for further public comment. Council members Steve Schumm and Deb Lucal both voted against tabling the legislation and said the discussion of golf carts has already been had in years past. The safety committee will meet next week to discuss the ordinance. Joe Lindenberger, parks superintendent, said the gym floor has gotten new lines and will have a fresh coat of finish soon. Lindenberger also encouraged everyone to vote and request an absentee ballot so they can vote by mail. The board of elections in Huron has a drop off box for ballots outside of the county administration building. The parks department has a five-year 1.75-mill levy that would combine three existing levies - all with various expiration dates — into one for the same millage, with current values. If approved, the owner of a $100,000 home would pay an additional $26 per year and $20 for homestead residents. Another ordinance passed will allow the community development block grant revolving loan fund program to assist local businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. O'Hara said last week there was more than $123,000 in the fund, but that was incorrect. Funds from the revolving loan fund were used for the Wooster-Marshall sewer separation project and there is only a little over $23,000 left in the fund. Council may request more funding from the state.