Avon Lake Fire Levy Defeated by 13 Votes

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, the Avon Lake paramedic levy lost by a very narrow margin Aug. 7, by a vote of 1,494 against (50.22 percent) and 1,481 (49.78 percent) supporting the levy. Results are not yet certified by the Board of Elections, and a recount may be mandated after final certified election results are in Aug. 23, which includes provisional ballots and absentee ballots postmarked by Monday, Aug. 13.

Avon Lake Fire Chief Glen Eisenhardt said his department will work on getting the message out.

"We are very disappointed of course," Eisenhardt said. "We will go back and look at our message and make sure our residents understand the facts. We need to do a better job at getting our message out and that was  difficult in a mid summer special election. We have everything in place to have the paramedic levy back on the November ballot but in the meantime, we will be finalizing the plans as to what services will be eliminated and how and when layoffs will occur and how far reaching they will be."

Fire department officials said approximately 27 percent of the funding for the medical services is generated  from the levy. The balance comes from the department’s general fund.

Council members and fire officials have said that up to positions could be cut if the levy fails. The levy pays for eight firefighters and a dispatcher. It also helps pay for vehicles, equipment and medical operating costs.

City officials intend to put the levy back on the November ballot if a final tally indicates the issue has failed. They would need