The city of Delaware has had two fires in the past month including the one that claimed the life of a Hayes High School student.
Aaliyah Wilson, 17, was pronounced dead after firefighters removed her from her residence at 48 High St. in the early hours of Sept. 15. Fire Chief John Donahue said the house had no working smoke detectors.
On Friday morning, there was fire at another residence, which had working smoke detectors and the family was able to escape safely.
“I know everybody here has heard me continuously preach about smoke detectors day in, day out,” Donahue said during Monday’s City Council meeting, where he was presented a proclamation for fire prevention week by Vice Mayor Kent Shafer.
Donahue cited a 2013 study that about 90 percent of residential fire fatalities did not have a smoke detector or a working smoke detector.
“I cannot express the need for working smoke detectors,” he said.
Delaware firefighters and the American Red Cross will be going door-to-door of 900 houses to ensure they have a working smoke detector.
Aside from fire safety, Council adopted the 2017 to 2021 Capital Improvement Plan, which allocates $1.75 million from the general fund each year for capital improvements. Council went over the plan in a work session last week.
According to the CIP, the city would spend $10.25 million over the next five years for more than $1.95 million in debt service and nearly $8.3 million of improvements for the airport, streets, park, equipment replacement, technology, building maintenance and sidewalks.
The CIP is expected to be revised at budget time for revisions for park improvements and if voters approve an income tax levy to update the city’s transportation system in the Nov. 8 general election.
In other business, Council:
• Approved legislation to permit the Ohio Department of Transportation District 6 to re-seal the noise wall and bridge parapet along U.S. Route 42 between Fern Drive and South Sandusky Street.
• Approved legislation to allow the city to refund $10,399.90 and $19,020 to the respective property owners of fire damaged properties for 34 Prospect Street and 3 Colfret Court. The city received the funds from two different insurance companies as required by state law in order to use the funds to raze, secure or repair the structure if an owner did not comply with the building official. In both cases, the owners are complying with the requirements and have requested reimbursements.
