At Monday’s meeting, Rossford City Council discussed some changes to marina guard duties and the problem of sinking boats.

“Boats taking on water at the marina have been an issue this summer,” Council member Caroline Zuchowski Eckel said.

The safety committee, which she chairs, recently learned that the fire department is called, which “ties them up and makes them unavailable for other calls.”

The committee is concerned about resources the marina is using from the fire and police departments that go unreimbursed.

“It should not be the fire department’s responsibility to save sinking boats,” she said.

Police Chief Todd Kitzler, who supervises the marina guards, will direct them to pump out sinking boats using a pump from the fire department.

Fire Chief Josh Drouard also will train the marina guards on the use of the pumps, Council member Eckel said.

“If there is an issue with a sinking boat that really is an emergency situation and the fire department is called down, the boat owner will be charged to cover the department’s time,” she said.

The safety committee also reviewed Chief Kitzler’s time supervising marina guards and operations.

“The hours that he spends doing this take away from actual police work, and the department is not reimbursed for his time,” Council member Eckel said.

For 2022, they suggested the marina committee create a position among the marina guards to take on the chief’s duties, as well as scheduling work for the marina now handled by police administrative assistant Lisa Kolb.

Councilman Jerry Staczek, who chairs the marina committee, said he, as a licensed charter boat captain, offered to provide free training to the marina guards but was rebuffed by the mayor.

“The sinkings wouldn’t have happened if the marina guards had proper training,” he added.

Councilman Bob Densic said he believes the fire department should be responsible for assisting sinking boats, but a fee should be assessed to boat owners. He encouraged council to continue the discussion on the issue.

Councilman Robert Ruse said city officials should not be concerned about which funds pay for specific expenses because marina costs are never fully covered by dockage fees.

“It’s supplemented by the general fund,” he explained. “What’s the difference if we’re still spending the money? It’s all coming from the general fund.”

Mayor Neil MacKinnon III noted that the marina is an asset to the city. “We have 100 percent occupancy, and a 35-person waiting list [for dock space],” he said.

In other safety issues, Council member Eckel reported:

•School resource Officer Jodi Johnson is recommending that U-turns be prohibited at the Dixie Highway and Bacon Street intersection from 7 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday.

The committee agreed the traffic change would alleviate some of the congestion at the school in the mornings.

•The computers in the police cruisers are seven years old and out of warranty, so Chief Kitzler is recommending they be replaced at a cost of $34,000.

The committee recommended they be part of the 2022 police budget.

•Chief Kitzler is requesting a lieutenant’s position be created to help with administrative duties and supervise the four sergeants.

•The fee for the ASR joint dispatch service used by fire and police has been about $5,200 for software and upgrades, but a new antennae was added increasing the yearly cost to $8,340.

The committee agreed that Chief Drouard should budget $10,000 annually for the expense starting in 2022.