Letters To The Editor

Disregard claims
of dissident cabal
To the editor: A word of warning for Lake Township voters. There is a micro-cabal of dissident former firefighters engaged in spreading deceptive and vindictive untruths about the upcoming fire levy. Untruths and disinformation that, if successful, will lead to delayed responses for EMS/fire calls and more reliance on mutual aid from outside jurisdictions.
They do not represent the outstanding and dedicated members of the Fire/EMS department in Lake Township. The reality is that lifestyle changes have drastically changed the nature of the volunteer firefighter service, not just in Lake Township, but state-wide. It is an issue of grave safety concerns for everyone. Lake Township at one time had close to 40 volunteer firefighters. Now we are down to just 27.
Consequently, there are not enough volunteers available to respond during peak call hours.
Despite what these dissident former firefighters claim, Lake Township residents deserve professional full-time fire and EMS personnel to help supplement the volunteer firefighters. Lake Township needs safety services that do not have to rely on mutual aid from other jurisdictions.
Disregard the dissidents’ fraudulent claims.
Richard Welling, township trustee
Millbury

Wrong choice
for fire chief?
To the editor: I am positive residents of Lake Township have seen the many social media posts and comments pertaining to the fifth fire/ EMS levy being requested.
I encourage all of you to look around this township and notice a large number of firefighters who have served this township for years all having signs asking you to vote against the levy.
Our department has had more than 55 firefighters on the roster and now with the current chief, Barrett Dorner, we have 10. We recently just lost three of the most senior members due to the chief’s poor leadership and one member was a very solid battalion chief who had put his blood, sweat, and tears into this department for a very long time. He helped us form as a brotherhood and do great things for our community as our goal was always to make sure our community and the children are safe.
I was disappointed to read the last roster of our department and I’m extremely disappointed in our trustees not listening to the taxpayers. I personally contacted each trustee to question their decision when they initially hired Chief Dorner. They picked someone who worked as Portage Township’s part-time fire chief less than a year, over a 40-year veteran of Toledo Fire and Rescue and who was the battalion chief of training for a department of over 500 career firefighters, EMTs and paramedics.
I have been in the fire service for 18 years and started at Lake. I made it my career and I'm a lieutenant at a very large department. I encourage you to hold the trustees accountable and vote no on this fire levy.
Jeff Wheeler
Walbridge

Levy support
warranted
To the editor: I want to echo the sentiments expressed by Lake Township trustee Richard Welling and urge our township voters to support the Fire and EMS levy on Nov. 7.
Thank you to our fire chief and the fire department for their tireless and often thankless service to our community, even attending township events on their off days. We want to make sure the shameless attempts of a few disgruntled former firefighters do not discredit the men and women of Lake Township Fire and EMS who put their lives on the line to serve and protect our citizens.
I am proud of everyone who works to keep our township running, but I cannot support slander against our fire chief and fire department as a whole.
I support our Fire/EMS Department as well as the citizens of Lake Township. We will continue to provide the best service we possibly can.
Lorie Davis, township trustee
Walbridge