Funding local Emergency Medical Service providers has become a priority for municipalities across Clarion County and Clarion Township is no exception.
At its regular meeting Feb. 14, the Clarion Township Board of Supervisors voted to double their donation to the Strattanville Volunteer Fire Company.
The supervisors agreed to increase the donation from $1,500 to $3,000 for 2023.
Supervisor Vice Chairman wanted to make sure it is known the $3,000 donation isn’t the end of the funding the township is willing to provide.
“That does not mean that we won’t help Strattanville out if they need something,” Frank Wilson said. “Last year they needed $5,400 for new automatic door openers. We gave them $5,000.”
Supervisor Pat Aaron echoed Frank Wilson’s sentiment.
“I’m sure we could help them with any unforeseen problems in the future,” Aaron said.
The Strattanville and Clarion VFD donations are only part of what the township pays for fire protection. A $1,500 donation is made to the Corsica Volunteer Fire Company and donations of $500 to the Limestone and Millcreek volunteer fire departments each year.
“Limestone has been in our municipality many, many times, especially (when something happens) on the Interstate,” said Lue Wilson. “We don’t have a fire department in our township. We rely on the fire departments in other townships.”
She said the donation is based on the population of the township that the fire companies service.
In addition the township pays a portion of the workmen’s compensation insurance for the fire companies.
“They get billed from the state and then they will bill us for a portion of that amount,” said Lue Wilson. “We contribute to Strattanville, Clarion and Corsica because they are the three companies that cover the township.”
The township pays $6,000 to the workmen’s comp fund for Strattanville and Clarion fire companies.
In other business, the supervisors granted secretary Lue Wilson permission to contact the Keystone Collections group to collect outstanding per capita tax. Currently the G.H. Harris Company collects outstanding per capita tax. Lue Wilson noted other municipalities and school districts currently use Keystone.