Hopewell Township voters will find a question on their ballot this election day to approve spending for several fire and emergency service vehicles that serve Hopewell Township. The request comes at a critical time for each of the three fire districts of Hopewell Valley as they keep up with aging equipment. The cost to taxpayers? The average Township household would see an increase of approximately $30 if this measure is approved.
What’s On the Ballot
The question being presented on the November 2024 ballot in Hopewell Township reads:
Shall the Board of Commissioners of Fire District No. 1 in the Township of Hopewell in the County of Mercer, State of New Jersey be authorized to purchase a Ladder Truck (in an amount not to exceed $2,044,000) and a Tanker Truck (in an amount not to exceed $996,267), and to substantially rehabilitate two ambulances (in the respective amounts not to exceed $133,740 and $99,763), and enter into lease purchase financing or issue bonds and bond anticipation notes to fund such capital projects?
INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
A YES vote will authorize the Board of Fire Commissioners to (i) purchase a Ladder Truck to replace a 1998 ladder truck, to be used by Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad (Titusville); (ii) purchase a Tanker Truck to replace a 1991 truck, to be used by Pennington Borough Fire Company, the cost of which shall be shared between the two fire districts; (iii) substantially rehabilitate a 2016 ambulance used by Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad (Titusville); and (iv) substantially rehabilitate a 2002 ambulance used by Hopewell Borough Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit, the cost of which shall be shared between the Fire District and Hopewell Township. A NO vote would mean that none of the above apparatus would be purchased or substantially rehabilitated.
A NO vote would mean that none of the above apparatus would be purchased or substantially rehabilitated.
To understand the issues, MercerMe sat down with Erick Burd, Chairperson and Joe Novak, Vice Chairperson of Hopewell Township Fire District No. 1 Board of Fire Commissioners, Schuyler “Sky” Morehouse, Chairperson of Hopewell Borough Fire District No. 1, Luke Morehouse, Hopewell Fire Department & Emergency Medical Unit EMS 1st Lieutenant, and Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning.
How Hopewell Valley’s Fire and Emergency Services Operate
Hopewell Valley is made up of three fire districts: Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough, and Pennington Borough. Within each fire district is a fire house: Union Fire Company & Rescue Squad is in Titusville / Hopewell Township, Hopewell Fire Department & Emergency Medical Unit is in Hopewell Borough; and Pennington Fire Company is in Pennington Borough.
Each fire company serves its community plus 20 square miles of Hopewell Township in a shared service agreement between Hopewell Township fire commissioners and the other fire districts. In this way, Hopewell Township ensures coverage for its 60 square miles. All the fire companies also frequently respond to emergencies within the Valley and beyond.
How Fire and EMS Costs Are Shared
Hopewell Township contributes a portion of the shared services costs to the Boroughs based on the percentage of emergency calls originating in the Township.
Sky Morehouse explained this as a “fee-based relationship between the two Boroughs and the Township. Because of the call ratios, in Hopewell Borough the radio is 70 / 30 and Pennington Borough it is 76 / 24. The Township pays the fee for 70 or 76 percent of the established and approved budgets of those two entities. We work together to establish and agree upon our budgets.”
The Hopewell Township Fire District is also responsible for providing emergency medical services for Hopewell Township, and it contracts shared services for those through Hopewell Fire Department & Emergency Medical Unit, Union Fire Company & Rescue Squad, and (since the closing of the Pennington First Aid) Capital Health.
See also After 68 years, Pennington First Aid Squad will make its last ride
Why New Fire Equipment is Needed
- Purchase of a Ladder Truck to replace a 1998 ladder truck, to be used by Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad (Titusville);
A ladder is the standard fire response vehicle. “Each company needs their own ladder truck to provide the initial service to the residences,” said Burd.
The existing Union Fire ladder truck is 26 years old and repairing it has become problematic. “The maintenance [for the current truck] is very expensive. We’re at the point where the replacement parts are not available,” said Burd, “And not only is the cost but also the time the truck is out of service – the real cost is the time the equipment is unavailable.”
“The ladder is primarily used for horizontal reach rather than vertical, as the truck can’t park right next to a burning building,” Novak explained. He added that the proposed truck will be both a ladder truck and an engine, equipped with a water tank and pump for added water access.
- Purchase a Tanker Truck to replace a 1991 truck, to be used by Pennington Borough Fire Company, the cost of which shall be shared between the two fire districts;
MercerMe covered this ballot question as it pertains to Pennington Borough voters. Hopewell Township voters will also be asked to weigh-in as the Township voters’ contribution will be 76% of the cost to replace the 31 year old tanker.
“A tanker’s sole purpose is to bring the water to and front the fire, when there are no hydrants or there is a need for a backup supply,” explained Novak. “The tanker acts as a supplemental water supply.”
See Fire District Asks Voters to Fund New Tanker, No Tax Increase
- Substantially rehabilitate a 2016 ambulance used by Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad (Titusville); and
This eight-year-old ambulance has nearly 100K miles on it and is described as their “busier ambulance.” Like the rest of the aging fleet, maintenance is becoming costly and must be taken out of service.
Rather than purchase a new ambulance, the fire company will replace the van chassis and interior including equipment while reusing the existing box. “There are components of the ambulance that don’t need to be replaced but the medical tubing and equipment will be new,” said Burd. “It’s a cost savings reusing the structure itself.”
- Substantially rehabilitate a 2002 ambulance used by Hopewell Borough Fire Department and Emergency Medical Unit, the cost of which shall be shared between the Fire District and Hopewell Township.
While this ambulance operates out of Hopewell Borough, only Hopewell Township voters will see a ballot question this year. “This is because Hopewell Township is being asked to pay 70%,” said Sky Morehouse. He explained that Hopewell Borough voters had already approved ambulance funding at a prior referendum that would be allocated to this purchase. The Borough’s approved amount “is about the Hopewell Borough taxpayers’ portion of the taxes.”
The 22 year old ambulance will similarly be rehabilitated rather than replaced. “We’ve gotten a long service out of the current ambulance, but the cost of maintenance is increasing as is the likelihood of more problems,” said Sky Morehouse’s son, Luke Morehouse, EMS 1st Lieutenant. “The plan to remount is a significant cost savings and allows us to operate without having the re-learn a new truck. Plus, we’re able to save the useful part of the truck and upgrade with the safety of a new vehicle base.”
Luke Morehouse emphasized that having dependable tools is not just about efficiency—it’s about providing the highest standard of care for the community during emergencies. “Transporting a patient is patient care,” Morehouse said. “It is a tool, and a reliable tool is the best one.”
Supporting Volunteers with the Right Equipment
Sky Morehouse underscored the importance of supporting volunteers who dedicate their time to serving Hopewell Valley. By approving the equipment upgrades, the community ensures that these volunteers can continue to perform their duties effectively and safely. “This truly is a community service done by volunteers who need the right equipment to be effective,” said Morehouse. “We are so well-served, it is our duty to provide our volunteers with tools to make their work a little easier.”
Remember to check your ballot and make an informed decision this election day. For more details, follow the Hopewell Township Fire District on Facebook.
Caption: Career Specialist Damian Lyness of Hopewell Valley Emergency Services, Volunteer Lieutenant Ian Green of the Pennington Fire Company and members from Hopewell Fire and Union Fire Company (Titusville) handed out candy at Haunted Hopewell event on Saturday, October 19. They also explained fire safety and the importance of keeping the fire and EMS equipment up-to-date to better serve the residents of Hopewell Valley.
