MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison Township Trustee Larry Ellis said last Friday that progress in being made to reopen the closed fire station on Kitchen Road.

The township closed the station last year due to problems with the building and the concrete apron outside the building.

Ellis said they plan to place a mobile home on the property for the crew to live in. He said they have also hired an engineer to determine the size and thickness of the apron. He said once they get the specifics, they will put the project out for bid.

Ellis said they are also getting the permits for their work and he plans to have the building inspected to see if it can be remodeled or does it need to be replaced.

Ellis said he hoped to have the station back in service within a month.

Letter requests Ellis resign

Since the fire department was changed from an all-volunteer department to a full-time paid department, there has been unhappiness from residents in the township.

Beginning in the early 2000s when the department went full time, there have been problems. Some of the problems included a lack of trust between the township’s elected officials and the residents, problems with funding the department and keeping firefighters on staff.

Those problems came up at the April 10 meeting, which lasted more than two hours and was marked by contentious discussion between firefighters, residents and the township’s elected officials. Much of the discussion was centered on the status of Station 31, but the only action item that was approved was a pay raise for paramedics. 

The day after that meeting, Jordan VanWye, vice president of the Madison Township District Local 4555, sent Ellis a letter requesting that he resign from his position.

While VanWye was happy with discussions on firefighters’ pay and benefits, he was unhappy with other items, including the high turnover of firefighters in the department, as well as Ellis’ refusal to provide public documents upon request, which resulted in a formal complaint with the state, according to VanWye.

“The unprofessionalism displayed at the township board meeting on April 10, 2024, was deeply concerning,” he wrote. 

VanWye goes on to say, “Your actions have demonstrated an obsession with control and authority, which appears to hinder your ability to make decisions that best serve the community.” He alleged that Ellis is undertaking duties “that traditionally fall within the purview of the fire chief, which has led to a misalignment between the department’s needs and your directives.”

VanWye said Ellis has made statements that do not reflect the realities faced by the department.

VanWye cited an incident during the Wednesday meeting in which he alleged Ellis was “seen laughing” at a mother who, along with her daughter, have serious medical problems and need the assistance of the township fire department.

VanWye concluded his letter by saying, “We will be reaching out to county officials and neighboring fire departments to explore the formation of a fire territory or fire district.”

In an attachment, VanWye asked for Ellis to consider resigning from his position.

Trustee plans

When reached by phone Tuesday, Ellis said he’d read the letter “but “not really digested it.” But his bottom line remained. 

“My official response as an elected official — no, I’m not resigning,” he said. “I was elected by the people of Madison Township. … I think the majority of Madison Township residents do not feel the same way as the people in the last meeting.” 

Ellis acknowledged he’s had a few missteps as a first-term trustee. 

“I’ll admit to that,” he said. “But our goals have not changed.”

He pointed to the expedited plans to get Station 31 reopened, along with additional efforts to get the township’s fire department fully staffed.

“We believe, at this point, we’re rounding the corner to get where we need to be,” Ellis said. “We’re renovating Station 31 and doing a lot of good things. Our goal has always been to take care of our firefighters.” 

The township is in the process of adding a couple more firefighters with a target to be fully staffed at nine full-time firefighters, in addition to some part-time positions as well. Between the full- and part-timers, the township aims to have eight firefighters on shift per day.

“Can we always get eight people per day? No, but that is our target,” Ellis said, as that “allows us to have two stations open.” 

But he knows he’s contending with some opposition, and he hopes the township residents and even its firefighters can give the elected officials a bit more time.

“We’re just going to have to go forward with our plans and prove these things can be done, and done in a constructive way,” Ellis said. 

Those efforts start with getting Station 31 reopened by doing the necessary repairs and upgrades.

“It needs to be done,” Ellis said. “The can has been kicked down the road too long.”

~ By Keith Rhoades | Reporter | Published April 18, 2024 in The Morgan County Correspondent