Nick McWilliams Reporting –
Safety services for fire and emergency calls will cost more for Goshen Township if a contract with the city of New Philadelphia is signed.
The letter, signed by Mayor Joel Day, Safety Director Greg Popham, and Fire Chief Jim Parrish, notified Goshen Township trustees of the increased rates, which would take effect in 2027.
Day says that in order to keep providing fire and EMS services in the area, the rates must meet increased costs and match those paid by city residents.
“New Philadelphia’s taxpayers have been subsidizing the fire and EMS services to the township for many years. The level of service by our fire department to the township is identical to the level of service received by residents. Therefore, the cost per call should be the same.”
Two years remain on the current agreement between the municipalities, which costs the township $180,000 per year. The new agreement would cost just over $537,500.
Day says that cost is based on the expense per call, which works out to roughly $1,122.
Popham says that the numbers were formulated by Parrish, who wants to share the information with city council members.
“To come up with the number he did, he didn’t just guess at it. He has a formula, and a process that he went through. And if anyone wants to see that, he’s more than willing to show how he arrived at the numbers he did.”
City firefighters responded to nearly 480 calls in the township last year.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had 5,081 residents in 2020, including those under the age of 18.
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