Leighton FD adds its voice to radio pager problems

Martin Township certainly is not alone in its problems with the county’s new radio pagers.

Leighton Township Fire Chief Matt Weston Thursday evening told the Township Board his firefighters are struggling with the new system, particularly when they are inside a building.

This, on the heels of an impassioned presentation by Martin Fire & Rescue Chief Earl Wykstra the night before. Wykstra indicated Dorr and Gun Plains townships have had similar complaints of some not receiving pages, which ultimately could be life threatening to firefighters.

Weston said some area chiefs met Thursday with a representative from Motorola, the manufacturer of the system, but everything is still in the talking stages.

“One of the things we’re doing to try to counteract the problem is to use our cell phones,” the chief said. “Which is not the best way to go.”

Weston also told the board he is welcoming five new volunteer firefighters to the fold to bring the size of the department up to 28 members, but he is anticipating losing Lexi Hott to the military again and Jason Kipen to the Wayland department.

In other business at Thursday night’s meeting, the Leighton Board:

• Agreed to local soliciting guidelines, rather than an ordinance, as outline by Treasurer Char Troost. Solicitors will be required to wear ID badges and work only between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday though Saturday, and not on holidays.

• Approved the bid of $52 per time from Heyboer for plowing the Green Lake fire station lot and $50 per time at the Moline fire station and $56 per time at the township hall from Green Lake Landscaping.

• Noted there were eight building permits issued in August at a value of an estimated $2.2 million. Two permits at a value of $651,000 were issued in September. There have been 32 building permits issued in the year to date, at an estimated value of $10.1 million.