3-year lease to keep NECCFD in municipal building

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NORTH LEWISBURG – The Northeast Champaign County Fire District Board on Feb. 29 signed a contract with the village of North Lewisburg that will keep Fire Station 321 in its current location inside the North Lewisburg Municipal Building for the foreseeable future.

With the current lease agreement with the village having expired at the end of 2015, the NECCFD Board unanimously voted in favor of renewing the lease for another three years.

“Everything pretty much stayed the same,” Board Chairperson Cheryl Hollingsworth said.

Under the agreement, the fire district will continue to lease approximately 5,100 square feet of space inside the municipal building at 60 E. Maple St. at a yearly cost of $18,750, the same amount as the previous contract.

Based on the recommendation of board member Bradley Herron, the lease agreement contains language stating either side may terminate the lease by providing a 90-day written notice.

Fire Chief Mike Penhorwood stated that as of Feb. 29, the NECCFD had handled 109 runs in 2016, up 30 runs from the same time period last year.

Penhorwood also read a letter of resignation from firefighter/paramedic Ryan Bebout, who stated he is no longer able to work for the district due to family obligations and his acceptance of a full-time job with the Bellefontaine Fire Department.

In other business:

•The fire district has finalized and submitted two applications for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. One application seeks $449,000 for a new pumper/engine, while the other application seeks $61,118 for a new LIFEPAK 15 monitor/defibrillator and an auto chest compression device.

•The board authorized Fiscal Officer Jennifer Jenkins to attend the annual Local Government Officials’ Conference in Columbus March 23 and 24 at a cost of $200. Jenkins will be reimbursed for mileage at the current IRS mileage rate of 54 cents per mile.

By Joshua Keeran

[email protected]

Joshua Keeran may be reached at 937-652-1331 (ext. 1774) or on Twitter @UDCKeeran.

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