BEDFORD – The newly formed Shawswick Guthrie Fire Territory will provide fire protection and an ambulance service in Lawrence County.
During a public hearing Monday night, Shawswick VFD Chief Bob Brown said the station on Sunny Acres Drive will be manned around the clock with four full-time firefighters, and an emergency medical responder or EMT.
According to Chief Brown, a dedicated 911 ambulance service is needed now. Currently, there are not enough ambulances to cover Lawrence County. This has been a problem in Lawrence County for years.
“There have been times when we have waited more than 45 minutes for ambulances from nearby counties to respond to residents in our coverage area,” added Chief Brown. “We are doing this because we want the best service for the residents in Shawswick and Guthrie townships.”
Lawrence County is not alone in this problem; it is a statewide problem.
“Many times, our ambulances are placed on standby at the county lines to cover Monroe, Jackson, and Orange counties,” added Chief Brown.
The proposed fire territory will have a negligible impact on taxpayers in Shawswick and Guthrie townships to cover the cost of the new fire territory.
Proposed Fire Territory tax impact:
General Fund
- Budget: $673,290
- Tax Levy: $630,000
- Projected Tax Rate: .2493
Cumulative Fire Fund
- Budget: $78,000
- Tax Levy: $84,139
- Projected Tax Rate: .0333
Debt Fund
- Budget: $82,800
- Tax Levy: $89,872
- Projected Tax Rate: .0356
Totals
- Budget: $834,090
- Tax Levy: $804,011
- Projected Tax Rate: .3182
Taxpayers Monthly Impact
- Residential – $50,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $1.76; Guthrie Twp. $1.95
- Residential – $100,000 Assessed Value Shawsick Twp. $5.76; Guthrie Twp. $6.40
- Residential – $150,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $11.47; Guthrie Twp. $12.75
- Agriculture – $100,0000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $17.57; Guthrie Twp. $19.54
- Agriculture – $200,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $35.15; Guthrie Twp. $39.08
- Agriculture – $250,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $43,93; Guthrie Twp. $48.86
- Commercial – $100,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $17.57; Guthrie Twp. $19.54
- Commercial -$200,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $35.15; Guthrie Twp. $39.08
- Commercial – $300,000 Assessed Value Shawswick Twp. $52.72; Guthrie Twp. $58.63
The Shawswick Guthrie Township Fire Territory will purchase an ambulance from the department’s debit budget.
The following hearings are scheduled for:
- Monday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Shawswick Volunteer Fire Department headquarters at 1327 Sunny Acres Drive.
- Monday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Shawswick Volunteer Fire Department headquarters at 1327 Sunny Acres Drive.
After the final public hearing, the Shawswick and Guthrie Township Advisory Boards will vote and make a written determination on adopting the new fire territory. Once approved, the fire territory will become active on January 1, 2023.
