Health, Safety, Welfare at Stake in Maintaining Toledo’s Water System

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By Michael P. Bell, Mayor

Water.  We need it for every facet of our lives.  In Toledo, water has been a dependable asset.  We have an ample supply thanks to our proximity to Lake Erie and we’ve always had a reliable source.  We take for granted that when we turn on the tap that liquid gold will flow on demand.  Unfortunately that requires that we take care of the system that brings the water to our door.  Historically, Toledo has not done this well, and we are now paying the price.

The Collins Park water treatment plant was built before World War II.  According to recent inspections from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), “the maintenance and capital improvement needs of the City of Toledo’s public water system have been overlooked for so long that most of the equipment is aged, obsolete, (and) showing signs of frequent failure, while being expected to operate at full capacity to keep up with the demands of the system.  The plant is in need of multiple expensive repairs to prevent a major failure.”

That the plant has continued to operate without crisis or major incident despite the antiquated equipment is a testament to the work of many generations of employees at Collins Park.  We continue to provide high quality drinking water for all of the residents and businesses we serve.  However we are now in a position that requires us to make significant improvements or face findings and orders from the Ohio EPA.  These improvements will require us to pay a greater rate for our water service.

Toledo’s rates have always been affordable and they will continue to be so.  The average Toledo household currently pays an average of $14.53 per month for water, $3.63 with a senior or homestead rate.  By comparison, ratepayers in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati pay $32.60, $33.35, and $25.63 per month, respectively.  Detroit, MI and Fort Wayne, IN water customers currently pay $25.12 and $22.20 on average per month.  Under the proposed rate structure, the average Toledo household will pay $24.93 per month by the end of 2018. That still puts Toledo’s water rates five years down the road at a level comparable what to other Midwestern communities charge currently.

We are mindful that our city continues to recover from the recession.  Both my administration and members of City Council have heard the concerns of Toledo’s residents and we’ve worked to maintain services that our taxpayers expect and deserve without raising taxes and fees.  Additionally, working with city council and community partners, the Department of Public Utilities has undertaken a performance audit to find greater efficiencies in their operations.  However Toledo’s water system is not an issue that can continue to be ignored or the repairs delayed.  The ultimate cost of doing so to our community would be devastating.

Collins Park has served Toledo well for over 70 years but was built long before our water system served the greater northwest Ohio region.  As a result the necessary redundancies needed as a back up to serve the expanded service area in 2013 are no longer in place to ensure that if any part of the system goes down there is sufficient capacity to continue to serve the demand for water.  In total, these upgrades and fail-safes will require a total investment of $314 million over the five-year life of the program.

The first portion of work to upgrade the system will include building two 20 million gallon basins to increase the capacity of the plant.  Currently, the plant has one 80 million gallon basin and one 40 million gallon basin.  At this point, both basins need to operate around the clock in unison to serve the demand of the system.  Adding the additional basins ensures that we can maintain capacity of the system in the event there is a need to take either existing basin offline for repair due to failure or even for regular ongoing maintenance.  These two new basins must also be constructed before other repairs can be made to the rest of the plant as they require taking existing equipment offline.

The distribution system is equally aged and requires greater investment. Currently, nearly 50% of the waterlines in Toledo date back to the 1930’s.  Only 0.27% of these are replaced each year resulting in an average of 300 water main breaks annually.  At this rate of replacement, a Toledo waterline would need a life expectancy of 366 years.  That is not practical and will not serve the health, welfare and economic development needs of the Toledo region.  This program would speed the replacement of waterlines to ensure that 1.1% of lines are replaced annually with a more practical 100-year life cycle for waterlines.

Additional improvements in this phase will also be made to the distribution system to ensure that pumps and electronic systems are updated and maintained to prevent failure to the system.

Toledo’s water system currently serves approximately 500,000 households across northwest Ohio and southeastern Michigan.  The consequences of failure to the system would damage Toledo economically, threaten the health, safety and welfare of the regional population and would ruin the regional image of northwest Ohio – not just the city.

The benefits of this program are many.  First and foremost we ensure the quality of the water delivered to 500,000 customers on a daily basis at an affordable rate.  By 2018, city of Toledo residents will receive three gallons of water for just one penny.  For homestead customers this will be four gallons for just one penny.  This capital improvement program will also create jobs.  Replacing waterlines and building new facilities requires many hands to accomplish the work resulting in an anticipated 683 construction jobs per year for the first five years of the program.  Finally, the Toledo region’s access to water and the affordability of clean and safe water is a major selling point in marketing this city for economic development.  Touting a first-class system that remains affordable and well-maintained bolsters that asset.

If you would like more information about the state of the Collins Park water treatment plant and the proposed upgrades to the water treatment and distribution system, please visit the city’s website at www.toledo.oh.gov.  There is a short video tour of Collins Park and the full presentation made to Toledo city council at the committee of the whole hearing to discussion this legislation.  This is not an easy issue to address and it’s not a popular proposal to bring forward.  But it is our job as city leaders to correct the problem regardless of what has or hasn’t been done in the past.  As we commit to that responsibility I ask for Toledo’s support in protecting this region’s health, economy and reputation.

As printed in the Toledo Free Press, April 26, 2013.

Help the environment and yourself with tips to begin rewarding recycling habits

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By Dave Vossmer, General Manager at Republic Services Toledo

The city of Toledo and Republic Services continue to work together to provide city residents with efficient, reliable waste collection services in 2013.

Our partnership saved more than $6 million of taxpayer money in 2012 with similar projections for 2013. Residents have the opportunity to save money, as well, through My Republic Rewards, powered by Recyclebank.

The program allows city residents to earn points toward discounts, deals and gift cards with more than 4,000 local and national businesses and brands, just by using the curb-side recycling service every two weeks.

In 2012, residents cashed in on more than $110,000 in discounts through the program.

In addition, more people are recycling, which helps to reduce the amount of waste entering the landfill.

Toledo residents recycled approximately 20,500 tons of material this past year. We hope to see that number continue to rise this year.

Develop Recycling Habits

“Single-stream recycling” makes it easy to recycle. No need to sort or separate types of recyclables – just place all recyclables into the blue cart. Your blue recycling cart is collected every other week. (Visit the Republic Services website or call 419.936.2511 to determine when your recyclables will be collected.)

  • Keep recycling simple: Take small steps to establish recycling habits. Begin recycling one type of item, to get used to the initial effort of sorting your waste. Put the junk mail in the recycling bin instead of the trash can. Or recycle plastic beverage bottles. As this becomes routine, continue to add to the list of items you recycle. Check out the list of accepted materials.

Common recyclables: glass, plastics #1-7, aluminum, metal and many kinds of paper and cardboard

  • Make it convenient: Place an extra container next to your trash can. This makes it very easy to separate trash from recyclables, without stepping outside to your blue cart.
  • Think about the rest of the house: It’s common to collect waste and recycling materials in the kitchen, as that’s where a large amount of your waste is generated. Consider placing a small recycling container in other areas of your home to collect recyclables generated beyond the kitchen. Consider things like the cardboard toilet paper roll in the bathroom or magazines in the living room.

Reap the Rewards

By establishing healthy recycling habits, residents registered with My Republic Rewards can earn points to use toward discounts and deals with local and national retailers and restaurants.

Four more Toledo businesses have just joined the rewards program – 419 Deals, Boyd’s Retro Candy Store, Charles Paul Salon Group and El Tipico Restaurant – where participants can get deals such as buy one get one free and discounts of more than 30 percent. See more rewards at Recyclebank’s website.

Toledo residents who have not yet taken advantage of the program can register by calling 888-727-2978 or visiting www.MyRepublicRewards.com.

For TPD, ‘to protect and serve’ is more than a slogan

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By: Derrick Diggs, Chief of Toledo Police Department

TOLEDO, like the rest of the country, is not immune to crime. That’s why the Toledo Police Department exists, and why the officers who are sworn to protect and serve our community risk their lives every day.

Our city has faced tough challenges over the past several years, including budget woes, depleted manpower in our safety forces, and a crisis in community faith. The Police Department has had to change our approach to fighting crime, relying on new tactics while building on existing relationships with our community partners.

Despite these challenges — and perhaps because of them — the department’s policies and procedures have been driven by internationally accepted best practices, which are evaluated consistently by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

The commission sets recognized standards against which professional law enforcement agencies benchmark themselves, to maintain public accountability, limit liability and risk, make informed policy decisions, engage the community, and pursue excellence. These are the tenets by which our department operates each day.

Over the past year, the Police Department has launched our data-driven policing project, called ORION (Observation Research Intelligence Operations Network). Most citizens are familiar with our new camera system, but ORION and the concept of data-driven policing extend beyond the “eye in the sky.”

ORION also allows us to incorporate data from service calls, intelligence gathering, and crime reporting to help us deploy department resources effectively. Across the nation, this type of program is considered a best practice.

Data-driven policing helps to deter crime, improve officers’ response, and enable investigators to solve crimes. Last year, burglaries in Toledo declined by 22 percent from 2011. Our homicide detectives solved 83 percent of the crimes they investigated, compared to the national average of 52 percent.

As we continue to use data-driven initiatives to deploy resources, I am confident we will continue to see less crime and higher case-closure rates in Toledo. But data and police officers cannot prevent or solve crimes by themselves.

In any community, citizen participation is key. The accreditation commission emphasizes community engagement when it evaluates our department.

Whether our officers are working with block watch groups, mentoring school-aged children, or working with seniors to check the safety of elderly and shut-in residents, community engagement builds trust. It sets a positive example of citizen interaction with police.

This engagement is a two-way street. Police officers need the help of citizens to prevent and solve crimes; in return, we want to give back to this community in positive ways.

In 2012, we introduced the Toledo Community Initiative to Reduce Violence. This deterrence-focused program brings together police officers, federal agents, prosecutors, judges, clergy, and social service organizations. We identify violent offenders with links to gangs and offer them an alternative that encourages them to leave criminal life behind.

Data indicate that this program is working and that gang-related crime has decreased. Other cities are looking to Toledo’s program as a model to replicate. Our police probation team is working with juvenile offenders to enable them to participate in community service and clear their records.

The Toledo Police Athletic League works with as many as 50 youths in sports such as boxing, baseball, basketball, and judo. Police officers volunteer their time to tutor and mentor young people to ensure they are reaching academic benchmarks, earning high school diplomas, and getting involved in their community.

The Toledo Police Department is here to protect and serve the community. This is more than a slogan on the side of our patrol cars. It is how we live our lives while we carry out our sworn duty to the citizens of Toledo.

In 2013, we will continue to find the best practices to protect our community. We’ll continue to engage the community we serve to make Toledo better for us all.

As printed in the Toledo Blade, January 26, 2013.

How Toledo is saving money on energy… and you can too.

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By: Chris Green, Manager of Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Operating multiple aging buildings can be a costly endeavor. For the city, delivering services requires places to store equipment, office space, gathering places for senior and youth activities, and in the case of our fire department even providing a place for our firefighters to stay overnight while on a 24-hour shift. Many of our buildings are not energy efficient. But thanks to BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio, we’re able to retrofit some of the facilities to ensure they remain useful to the community well into the future while cutting our energy costs to ensure we’re making the best use of public funds.

Energy efficiency doesn’t have to be limited to major capital improvements, or home improvements for that matter. Here’s a sample of some of the projects the city has undertaken and some similar suggestions for steps you can take at home to lower your energy costs.

HEATING AND COOLING: In many city buildings there is a need to replace boilers, HVAC or hot water heaters. Doing this gives the city the opportunity to schedule peak heating and cooling times for when the building is in use and also to regulate the climate and water to comfortable levels. Avoiding unnecessary heating or cooling saves on utility bills.

WHAT CAN I DO AT HOME? The largest monthly utility cost for a home is normally due to heating and cooling.

  • Install a programmable thermostat and set the temperature to 68 degrees in the winter and 74 degrees in the summer rather than the same temperature year-round, such as 72 degrees.
  • Make sure to replace furnace filters regularly to allow proper airflow and ensure your furnace or air conditioner doesn’t need to work so hard to heat or cool you home.
  • You can also set the water heater to 120 degrees. Think how often the water is used compared to the heater working to hold that temperature all day, everyday.
  • Seal gaps around doors and windows. Small gaps can add up to 100s of square inches throughout your home. – imagine the energy you’d lose if you left a window open.

LIGHTING: The city is working to implement simple changes to make lighting in our facilities more efficient. One simple change was to realign the lighting in the apparatus bays in some fire stations. Lights previously hung directly over fire trucks, rescue squads and ambulances, but the vehicles blocked any light from reaching the floor of the garage. By hanging lights between where the fire and rescue vehicles are parked the room is brighter. We’re also replacing costly incandescent and fluorescent lights with less costly compact fluorescent lights and adding motion sensors so that when no one is in the garage, the lights turn off.

WHAT CAN I DO AT HOME? You can reduce your electric bill by making a few simple changes and being sure to watch your power settings.

  • By changing incandescent lamps to compact fluorescent (CFL) or light-emitting diodes (LED) you can realize energy savings of up to 75% for the same amount of light.
  • Make sure to turn off computers and TVs or put them in standby mode to help lower your electric bill.

CONSERVING WATER: The city works on an ongoing basis to repair and maintain valves to minimize water use.

WHAT CAN I DO AT HOME? Most people try to conserve water by turning off the tap while you brush teeth or wash dishes, but there are other ways to minimize your use even when the tap is running.

  • Install water aerators. No aerators mean twice as many gallons per minute of water are likely used and that means a higher water bill.
  • Fix leaking faucets and running toilets. If that water is passing through your water meter, you’re paying for it, so make sure it’s going to good use.

These suggestions involve relatively low cost, if not no cost, investments for your home and can help achieve utility savings that will help cover the expense. Check with your local licensed tradesman or home improvement store for more information about implementing some of them in your home.

State of the City: A mid-term review

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By Mayor Michael P. Bell

Preparing to deliver my third state of the city address on Tuesday has served as an opportunity to reflect on the things we have accomplished in the first half of my term as well as the things I would yet like to achieve in my remaining time as Mayor.  Our position in 2012 has shown improvement in many areas since I’ve taken office, but there continue to be challenges we need to address to ensure our citizens we are working as effectively as possible on their behalf to deliver the services they deserve.

Budget
The economy and its effects on the budget have proven to be our biggest challenge over the last two years, and that is because money impacts our ability to provide service in every other sector of the city.  Despite a projected $48 million deficit when we took office in 2010 we have worked to overcome depleted revenues and rainy day funds by divesting unproductive and unprofitable city assets and cutting non-personnel costs.  We did not introduce new or increased taxes.  We even managed to avoid mass layoffs and continued hiring police and firefighters.  The budget continues to be a challenge and we continue to look for new ideas to ensure that not only are basic city services funded, but also quality of life programs like parks, recreation and senior centers.  I look forward to a day when we can be assured that these services are all fully funded and we can again begin depositing money into a rainy day fund to build a financial future for the next generation.

Safety
Ongoing hiring in our safety services must be a priority and my administration has made it one of the highest as we compile budgets.  Despite decreased revenues in increasing demand for services, we have continued hiring police officers and firefighters since taking office.  Since taking office my administration has hired 79 police officers and 97 firefighters.  In 2012 we will hire another class of 30 police officers and 30 fire recruits.

For too many years no new police recruits were hired despite ongoing retirement of senior officers in the department.  In 2009 the city even laid-off 75 officers.  Today we are seeing the effects of that depletion of manpower.  We will continue to build our ranks in the police department.  My goal is to reach 600 sworn officers before the end of 2013.  It is a steep challenge, but I believe it is achievable and it will remain a priority for my administration.

We must continue to build our fire ranks as well.  The merge with the Ottawa Hills fire department provided us with an additional fire station and ten skilled firefighters who today continue to provide compassionate and professional fire protection and emergency medical service to the city.  We are also building a new fire station onToledo’s east side.  The new fire station 6 will be strategically positioned to respond to our citizens, the new Hollywood Casino and the Toledo Refining Company.  This new building is possible thanks in part to a federal grant.   I believe it will serve the city well and provide a facelift for the Fassett and Oak neighborhood where it is located.

Neighborhoods
We continue to work to beautify neighborhoods across the city and remove blight.  In 2011 the city surpassed all recent records and demolished 412 units that were bringing down our neighborhoods.  Despite tough budgets we have worked to maintain parks, make sure pools are open in each council district and make summer recreation activities available for young people and senior centers for our aging population.

The private sector is contributing as well.  Columbia Gas invested $18 million in new capital in 2011 to upgrade infrastructure inToledo.  They will invest another $20 million in 2012.  Businesses and volunteer organizations have adopted gardens and flower pots around the city to provide a pop of color on downtown streets and neighborhood boulevards.

And finally, our own Department of Neighborhoods is going through restructuring.  An internal review shows that changes were needed in this department and some initial modifications have been made.  More will come.  New leadership continues to evaluate staff and procedures in the department.  My primary goal in reviewing this department, and the changes that have followed, is to preserve the federal funding that comes toToledofor neighborhood and community development.  We will continue with this process to ensure that happens and that we are thorough in addressing the problems.

Still to come
Toledo still faces budget constraints as our revenues catch up and we pursue structural changes to reduce our annual expenditures.  Locally and nationally, the economy continues to lag behind 2007. 

We will maintain a collaborative approach to economic development.  Whether we are working with other agencies or our regional neighbors, it is timeToledoaccepts that we are interdependent with other northwestOhiocommunities.  We have many resources to market in this area, including our water and land.  Working with partners around the region we will find a way to preserve these assets for our citizens, but also ensure that they are shared equitably in a manner that preserves our infrastructure and attracts new development.

As our revenues increase and our debt decreases will be able to make a greater investment in capital improvements.  In 2012 the city will pursue a $28 million capital program that includes major street and residential road resurfacing.  While we continue to rely on the CIP fund to balance the budget will work smarter and more efficiently to ensure that roads are maintained.

I still love this job.  Every day is a new challenge and a new reward.  I appreciate the chance to serve my city and I thank you for that opportunity.

As printed in the Toledo Free Press, January 2012

Cooperative services have a positive impact on northwest Ohio communities

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By Mayor Kevin Gilmore and Mayor Mike Bell

Cooperation, collaboration and regionalism in the face of shrinking municipal budgets are ideas that many elected officials have used in speeches and press conferences, but we seldom see these ideas put into action. But this week our two northwest Ohio communities passed a milestone in that action – the one year anniversary of the merging of Toledo and Ottawa Hills’ fire services.  Looking back at the planning for this successful venture there are lessons we can apply to future collaborative endeavors as well as share with others who have watched our partnership and seek to replicate it.

When Ottawa Hills approached the city with this proposal Toledo was open to the idea, but we both remained unsure of how it would be received by the public.  Our firefighters worked together each day thanks to an automatic mutual aid pact.  Each department is staffed by skilled and highly trained professionals who deliver fire protection and emergency medical services to their respective communities.  Each department was comfortable relying on each other for the same purpose when they needed back-up from a nearby ally.  All that separated these two departments was an imaginary line of demarcation, referred to as municipal boundary. 

As we worked through a potential partnership scenario it became evident that the citizens of Ottawa Hills could be provided professional fire protection and emergency medical assistance at a much lower cost to their budget, and the City of Toledo could benefit from an extra fire station where there was currently a geographical gap, as well as ten highly qualified firefighters to join the Toledo Fire ranks.  Our two communities continue to benefit from these positive points.  We should note that Ottawa Hills residents have welcomed Toledo firefighters into our community (complete with homemade pies delivered to the station during their first week).  And Toledo is glad to count firefighters of the former Ottawa Hills department among our ranks.

As the first real foray into shared services in northwest Ohio, citizens in both of our communities were justifiably uncertain about the proposal.  Our hope is that they have been reassured by the consistent provision of high quality, professional safety protection in both communities; dedication to a high standard of care from the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department personnel; budget savings; staff gains, and a respect for and pride in the community identity thatToledoand Ottawa Hills both hold.

We are both proud to lead the way as an example for other Ohio communities that are looking to this collaboration as a model that may be replicated in their area.  We’ve had phone calls and meetings to explain how we approached this partnership and why it worked for us.  And we continue to look for partnership opportunities with our neighbors to ensure that we are providing other services as efficiently and economically as possible for our citizens, but also that these potential partnerships make sense.

As we said in 2010 when these discussions began; cooperation, collaboration and regionalism are words easily tossed about, but this simple vocabulary has no value without action.  In going forward with this program we took a hard look to make sure that the proposal made sense for both communities.  Not all services can or should be combined, but we also should not dismiss the opportunity for partnership and service collaboration for fear of change.  As budgets shrink and the demand for service holds steady, local governments have to be innovative and open new ideas to meet the needs of our citizens.  Shared services can be a part of this and we are proud to be at the forefront of the initiative in northwest Ohio.

Kevin Gilmore is Mayor of the Village of Ottawa Hills.  Mike Bell is Mayor of the City of Toledo.

As printed in the Toledo Blade, January 2012

Partnership continues to be vital to economic development

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By Mayor Michael P. Bell

Partnership has been a running theme in economic development throughout my administration and it’s a track that I will continue to pursue because I believe it is working.  It’s no secret that the Toledo Region was hit hard by the recession over the last five years, but we have collectively worked to build on the solid industrial foundations of our past while diversifying our effort to attract new business.  As a result of this collaborative effort and unified message, we are positioned as the center of the new manufacturing economy with a world class workforce, educational assets, research and development resources and logistical capabilities that provide access to much ofNorth America.  By partnering to promote this message we have attracted interest nationally and internationally.  We began to see the fruits of this effort in 2011 and I believe we will see even greater progress in 2012.

Manufacturing has provided the foundation for our local economy for years.  Libbey Glass, GM Powertrain and Jeep have been staples of our local economy for years, and they were hit by the recession just like every other business in Northwest Ohio.  Yet these three corporations remain major employers in Toledo and continue producing products that are used across the globe.  Even better they are beginning to see growth.  The City and our partners continue to work together to make the case for these companies continuing and expanding their operations in Toledo. As we look forward to 2012 I’m excited to see the capital expansion plans, job creation efforts and community involvement of our major employers continue and expand in Toledo and the region.  This will be key toToledo’s ongoing recovery in 2012 and beyond.

Also in 2012 we look forward to the opening of Hollywood Casino Toledo.  Over the last year we have watched impressive development on the east bank of the river take place for what could be Ohio’s first casino.  Already, Penn National has begun to hire employees for all roles once the facility is open to the public.  The economic impact of this project has been felt in our city for months as men and women worked on the bricks and mortar portion of this project due to collaboration between labor and business.  The next step will be collaboration with our hospitality industry to welcome those visitingToledo to take advantage of this new attraction. 

In 2012 the city will continue to reach out with our partners to tell our story around the country and the globe.  As I have travelled throughout the last year with other members of the Toledo Region’s economic development team, we continue to be received with awe as we describe this region’s assets.  Property is affordable; there is abundant access to fresh water; you can reach half of nation within one day’s drive and we have access to unlimited educational resources through the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University,Owens Community College and many other technical and trade school programs.  Our arts and culture opportunities could compete with any other major city in the country when you consider our zoo, symphony, opera, multiple ballet companies, theater programs and local live music.  Yet these are assets that we continue to take for granted in our community. The City of Toledo has been part of the effort over the last two years to get our business community and economic development contributors moving in the same direction.  My goal for 2012 is to get our citizens to join in that movement.  I’m frequently approached by people who want to help turn Toledo around.  I tell them to be positive.  When someone asks you about Toledo, tell them about the good parts; the reasons you stay and the things that make you proud.  Tell them why you think they would like it here. Toledo is making progress and there is a role for everyone to help, from the big corporations, to researchers in university labs and students in the classroom. Everyone can play a role in the partnership we have worked to build on over the last few years and everyone’s role will be essential to continuing our revitalization in 2012.

As printed in the Toledo Free Press, January 2012.

Keep your home safe and the holidays bright throughout the winter

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By Lt. Matthew Hertzfeld, Toledo Fire and Rescue Department

Each winter, an estimated 108,400 home fires occur in the United States, resulting in approximately 945 deaths and $1.7 billion in property loss.

Cooking is the leading cause of winter home fires, and holiday decorations and winter storms can cause people to turn to alternative heating sources, such as space heaters, which account for about one third of home heating fires and approximately 80 percent of home heating fire deaths.

With some forethought winter fires can be prevented and your home can remain festive, warm and safe throughout the season by following a few simple safety tips.

Cooking and home heating
When cooking, stay in the kitchen and monitor food on the stovetop or grill or broiling in the oven. If you are using a woodstove, space heater or other source of heat be sure to keep a three foot clearance to avoid accidental fires.  Never use the oven or stovetop to heat your home; this can produce carbon monoxide gas which has no odor or color and is both toxic and lethal for people and pets.  If you need assistance with providing proper heat to your home, contact United Way2-1-1 for more information about home heating programs available inToledoand northwestOhio.

Decorations
The holidays are festive and with proper care your decorations will brighten the season.  Don’t put a live Christmas tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks.  Make sure the stand is filled with plenty of water and don’t leave the tree up if you plan to be out of town for the holidays.

Try flameless candles.  They provide the same ambiance as lighted candles, but are much safer in homes with pets and children.  If you use lighted candles, be sure they are placed on a flat surface and in a sturdy holder.  Keep them out of the reach of children and at least 12 inches from anything that may burn.  Never leave burning candles unattended.

Smoke detectors
A properly functioning smoke detector is your best line of defense in the event of a home fire.  Check smoke detectors for proper operation monthly and be sure to change the batteries each time you change your clocks throughout the year.  If you need a smoke detector for your home the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department offers citizens smoke detectors at no cost.  They are available at anyToledofire station.

TheToledoFire and Rescue Department serves 18 fire stations throughout the City of Toledoand the VillageofOttawa Hills.  In addition to responding to fires, all Toledofirefighters are trained Emergency Medical Technicians.  Each year the department responds to more than 50,000 emergency incidents including fires, basic and advanced life support transport, hazardous materials incidents, water rescues, confined space rescues and homeland security.  Led by Chief Luis Santiago, the department is nationally accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International at the Center for Public Safety Excellence.