Recently, the mayor of the city of Tiffin again made a public statements stating the reduction of EMT, fire and police service and protection without going the extra mile and exploring a positive solution to the issues we all face.
The city of Tiffin has what are called mutual aid agreements with surrounding townships for assistance in emergency situations, specifically support during fires and the availability and use of EMTs. Because Tiffin Fire & EMT services are being reduced, I suggest the following solution to this problem, please be open minded.
Tiffin Fire Department could operate at full staff if the city of Tiffin is willing to allow surrounding volunteer firefighters and EMTs to fill these vacancies. These individuals are all highly trained and dedicated. Now it will cost the city money to have these volunteers, but not at the same level of expense we are currently experiencing. These volunteers would be paid for time on actual calls, the pay would be the same as the townships presently pay them. These volunteers, however, would not be able to drive the vehicles due to liability insurance; thus, this is going to require complete cooperation between the city of Tiffin and the Tiffin firefighters union. All parties must look what is best for the community and drop the protective barriers they continue to put in place.
To continually say there is no solution to the situation we all should find unacceptable of our elected officials. Be thinkers and problem solvers, not individuals who only see the glass empty. The world today is changing faster than anyone could ever believe and this is the time to think differently and solve the problem instead of saying taxes are the only solution. By saying you are not going to plow streets sends a real positive message to a business wishing to relocate to Tiffin. Guess what, they aren't coming.
Sincerely,
Kevin Carrigan,
Tiffin
