South Zanesville Fire Department levy for new equipment

SOUTH ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The South Zanesville Fire Department also has a levy on the upcoming ballot.

The levy is for additional fire protection and is 1.8 mills for 5 years. The current levy will stay in place and an additional levy will be added to it. Captain Jacob Waltemire says they are struggling to support operations and would like to use the new levy to expand operations.

“The biggest service we want to provide with this new levy is we want to add an ambulance. We do not have an ambulance right now. We respond on every EMS call, but we do not transport. We first respond. Community ambulance transports for us. If we pass this levy, we’re gonna purchase an ambulance and we’re gonna be to respond and transport you to the hospital instead of just being there to help until Community gets there.”

The South Zanesville Fire Department is made up of volunteer firefighters. The hope is that the purchase of an ambulance will create more jobs at the station.

“Hopefully with the ambulance and the revenue generated by the ambulance, we’re gonna be able to provide part-time staffing in the future. So hopefully with this levy and again the ambulance and the revenue generated by the ambulance to transport billing we’ll be able to add on part-time staffing which is our ultimate goal.”

Citizens are invited to attend a community meeting tomorrow night where they can ask any questions they may have about the levy. Citizens will also be able to find out just how much the levy will cost them at the meeting. Or citizens can go to the South Zanesville Fire Department Facebook page and see a breakdown of the levy and find information on a levy calculator. The meeting will be from 6-7 p.m. at the fire station.