Otherwise happy resident disappointed with EMTs

NORWALK — A Hunters Glen condominium complex resident shared her dissatisfaction with emergency medical services during the Norwalk City Council meeting Dennie Taraschke, a retired teacher, spoke up during the public comments portion of the meeting to share four incidents she and her late husband were involved with that required aid from EMS. The first of which involved her breaking her sternum in an automobile accident on Feb. 3, 2021. She said the police responded to the scene immediately, however, it took the ambulance much longer to respond. "You're in pain. You think every minute is a lifetime," she iterated. "It took the ambulance another 10 or 15 minutes to arrive." Her next experience came a day after she and her husband, William, celebrated their 54th anniversary. Taraschke said William broke his neck and suffered severe brain damage after falling the bathroom — he died at age 79 just 12 days later at Cleveland's Metro Health. She said that the Norwalk Fire Department responded immediately, but once again, it was all for naught because the ambulance hadn't arrived yet. "When they arrive the EMT very slowly strolled to the house. A sloth could have beaten him to the door," Taraschke said. "He acted like he could've care less. I'm sorry that we interrupted him from his television show or his supper that he was eating, but he could've cared less what kind of emergency I was in." On Dec. 14 Taraschke broke her leg when she fell during a severe vertigo episode. She said it took more than an hour to make her way to the wall so she could get her neighbor's attention by banging on it. Again, the fire department was on scene immediately and she had to wait a half hour or more for an available EMT. "They came from Bellevue because nobody from around here was available," she said. Taraschke fell again this June and broke her back. As in her past experiences the fire department responded immediately, but had to call for another squad to come out because they didn't have the correct equipment to deal with her back injury. "The firefighters have responded immediately. The EMTs have not. They've either come late or they've come with an attitude. I'm not happy with the service we're receiving from the EMTs in this area," Taraschke stated. Taraschke mentioned other public service departments as voters for funding via levies and asked why are there no levies for the fire department. "I would pay anything for better service. The people of Norwalk deserve the best," Taraschke said. President Steve Euton asked city administration to retrieve response times Taraschke calls and report them to council. Despite the frustrations with emergency response times, Taraschke said she and William have lived in many communities and she is happy living in this community. "I couldn't be more pleased with the city of Norwalk," Taraschke said. "When we moved here three years ago the people were absolutely wonderful. I've been happy with everything ever since then." Council also passed an emergency ordinance to appropriate $6,644 received through the transient guest tax to the Norwalk Visitors Bureau. In other business: Council gave a first reading to an ordinance that would revise a section of the personnel policy manual covering safety boot expense reimbursements. The ordinance would raise the reimbursement rate from $100 to $175 and would allow the finance director to make adjustments as needed moving forward. Police chief Dave Smith asked permission to use $35,245 from the law enforcement trust fund to buy 27 new tasers. Smith said they are currently using tasers that are 10 years old and several do not work. Mayor Dave Light shared an update he received from Green Circle Growers on its H2A visa workers. He said the 255 workers will arrive staggered between Nov. 8 and Nov. 11. Zoning Officer Mitch Loughton said the city has received no payments from 15 property owners whose grass was mowed by city crews. He said he submitted paperwork to Huron County Auditor Roland Tkach's office to have the debts assessed on their property taxes next year for a total $6,025. Loughton advised council a contractor has begun removing 21 trees, and weather permitting, the project will be completed next week. Public Works Director Osborn updated council on the status of the multi-use path. He said the project is ahead of schedule to be completed by next summer.