Fish fry promotes safety levy

CHILLICOTHE – People lined up in the cold Friday outside the East Second Street Phoenix Fire Co. for the fried fish and information about the safety levy.

According to Chillicothe Fire Chief Jeffrey Creed, both the city police and fire departments purchased 500 pounds of fish and 500 pounds of tenderloin to provide lunch and brochures on the basics of the levy.

“I’ve had the guys out there talking to people about it,” Creed said. “I can’t believe this many people came out when it’s so cold out.”

Creed said 20 to 25 members of the departments worked to sell the meals, and 200 meals were delivered through advance orders.

“It’s absolutely necessary that this levy pass,” said Don “Yogi” Roush, a volunteer for the fish fry. “Our population is aging, and they are having more emergency calls than they have ever had. We need to get this levy passed and those stations opened.”

The May 5 levy will decide the fate of police and fire department staffing going forward. Officials encourage voters to support the levy’s proposed 0.2 percentage point income tax increase, which would bring in about $1.4 million, allowing the city to reopen the East Main Street and University Drive fire stations and create a combined dispatch center for the departments.

The levy also would allow five to seven safety service jobs to be added between the police and fire departments.

Creed said the departments plan to host information sessions for voters throughout the city as the levy gets closer.