The Plain Township Fire Department is one of five township departments recently surveyed by Fire Chief John Hoovler that does not have full-time battalion chiefs for emergency situations.

Hoovler reported to trustees Feb. 1 on his survey of 11 townships and four cities in Franklin County about their use of battalion chiefs.

The trustees on Jan. 18 had asked Hoovler to report back to them about other departments of similar size and their use of battalion chiefs. Hoovler had presented on Jan. 18 a budget that did not include funds for new personnel, although the township has talked in the past about adding battalion chiefs. Hoovler said battalion chiefs make emergency situations safer by coordinating firefighters on site.

In addition to Plain Township, Clinton, Hamilton, Pleasant and Prairie townships do not have full-time battalion chiefs.

Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Norwich, Truro, Violet and Washington townships and Grandview, Upper Arlington, Whitehall and Worthington all have full-time battalion chiefs.

Five townships and three of the cities also can call the fire chief during an emergency to act as a battalion chief: Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Violet and Washington townships and Grandview, Upper Arlington and Whitehall.

The townships without full-time battalion chiefs do have options in emergency situations.

Hoovler said he, too, can act as battalion chief when needed. Hamilton and Clinton townships are surrounded by the city of Columbus, which provides a battalion chief during emergencies, Hoovler said. In Pleasant Township and Prairie Township, the fire chiefs live in the areas they serve and respond to emergencies.

Hoovler’s budget presented to trustees Jan. 18 estimates the fire department will end 2015 with a negative balance of $298,778.78. The budget, as proposed, includes a new car and medic unit, new radios and some other equipment that has to be replaced regularly.

During the Feb. 1 budget review, trustee David Ferguson asked Hoovler to form a team that could solicit donations from local companies.

“Our revenues are not growing,” Ferguson said. “A lot of our area is expanding but we’re not getting any tax revenue from that.”

The fire department collects money from four levies, which were passed in 1983, 1990, 2000 and 2008. All are permanent and are used for operating costs. Together, the millage rates total 12.2 mills.

New companies that build in New Albany often receive tax abatements, which allow a company to pay only a portion of the property taxes owed for the term of the abatement. Abatements affect the township’s property-tax collection, although the township still provides the same services to the new company as it does to existing companies, Ferguson said.

Ferguson suggested the new team talk to local companies to determine if any are willing to donate money or equipment to help the fire department.

Hoovler said he would like the team to work with New Albany officials to approach companies about fire department donations.