News and Updates:

**THE FACTS About the Hocking Township Fire Department Levy Request

Hocking Township Fire Department is seeking a new 3-mill levy for support on the ballot this fall to provide the same coverage and service for your home or business, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. The levy will cost less than 30 cents per day ($105 more per year for every $100,000 home value).

Why Are Additional Funds Needed?

With a nearly 25% increase in service demand over the past five years, our fire and EMS teams are working harder than ever to protect our community.  As the costs of equipment and services continue to rise and our community continues to grow, we find ourselves in need of additional funding to keep the current level of service to our residents and businesses.

What Will This Levy Be Used For?

We serve 5,220+ residents in 1,313 homes and that number is expected to continue rising.
We respond to emergencies on five major roadways: US 33, State Routes 22 and 159, and major county thoroughfares including Hamburg and BIS roads.

In 2023, we had 888 Fire and EMS runs in our community and provided mutual aid. This is a nearly 25% case volume increase in the past five years.
It costs $3,636 to purchase the minimal gear for one firefighter to safely start their job with us. This gear has to be replaced every 7 years.

How has Hocking Township Fire Department Been a Good Steward of Tax Dollars?

We have operated on a modest budget – and even if the increase is approved, our operating budget would remain so at $1.14 million per year – with similar-sized departments operating at nearly double this budget.

We have pursued grants aggressively, securing $485,000 in 2023, which saved taxpayer dollars. Additionally, we used federal (ARPA) grants to secure funding to provide four full-time staff members for the department.
When we increased our staffing, our Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating improved, which helped to lower home insurance costs for residents. Losing staffing could impact our ISO rating, thereby increasing insurance rates. Our rating went from a 9/10 to a 4/4x!

We created a free fire inspection education program (non-citation) and started an AED program for our community to create safer spaces for our citizens.​

** The Board of Trustees are looking for residents who want to join the Hocking Township Zoning Commission Board. Please contact Gail Ellinger if you are interested.

**The Board of Trustees wants to remind the public that Ohio Revised Code 5589.33 states,"no person shall place within the limits of the right-of-way or affix any sign, poster, or advertisement to any tree or utility pole within the right-of-way of any public highway outside of municipal corporations." This informational release is the result of the increasing numbers of both political and private signage being placed along the roads. Signs placed in the road right-of-ways will be removed by the County Engineer's Office.

​**It is illegal to place any object (other than a mailbox) or bury anything such as cabling or wiring in the road right of way without filing for a Right of Way (ROW) permit through the Hocking Township Board of Trustees. Violation of this right-of-way policy and failure of the property owner to correct the violation may result in use of Hocking Township employees and equipment to correct the violation, with the cost assessed against the property owner as a tax lien (ORC 5547.03). Any and all trees, shrubs and other vegetation growing in the right-of-way that interferes with the safe use of the highway may be trimmed or removed (ORC 5543.14). You can obtain a permit on Hocking Townships website under policies. 

**Did You Know The Lancaster Fairfield Public Transit System Serves All Of Hocking Township? See the tab below for more information about hours of operation and fares.​​

**Reminder when spraying and mowing season is in effect, any property owner who wish not to have their property sprayed or mowed should post temporary signs at the location and notify one of the Township Trustees. You can find their contact information on the Officials Tab above. If you reside on a county road inside Hocking Township, you must contact the County Engineer's Office.

**Open Public Business Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of every month with work sessions beginning at 6:30 PM and the regular open meeting at 7:00 PM.

Safety Notice:

**Know your OHIO FIRE LAW. Ohio Revised Code 1503.18 Prohibits outdoor open burning statewide in unincorporated areas during the months of March, April, May, October and November between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. The ban includes burning of yard waste, trash, and debris even in a proper burn barrel. Controlled burns should be reported to the Sheriff Department in advance. This will prevent a Fire Department call and possibly a fine.

Facts:

Hocking Township is responsible for 31.817 Road Miles

Hocking Township Population as of 7/1/2019 is 5,220

Hocking Township Fire Department had a combined total of 888 Fire and EMS runs in "2023"