The Ross Township supervisors continue to debate whether to implement a tax on residents for the Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder Fire Department, which serves the township.

“I just find it difficult to sit here when we have the economic environment we have today in our country; it is tough to force people to have to people pay for more,” supervisors Vice Chairman David Shay said at the meeting Monday.

Blue Ridge Fire Chief Paul Warnick and the supervisors exchanged statistics and costs during the meeting.

“Anything is better than we are getting now.” Warnick said.

He highlighted the department’s outdated equipment, including a trucks, that needs to be replaced. He also said that fundraising does not provide a guaranteed cash flow and that costs to cover include training and insurance.

Warnick said that the department is also accountable to the state, not just the township, with regulations that it must follow.

Shay asked about the department’s wants versus its needs.

Warnick said the department needed the fire tax.

“I wish this problem didn’t exist.” Supervisor Randy Detrick said.

He followed up with a question to Warnick: “Why do you do this? Why do you volunteer?”

“It’s a good thing for your community,” the chief said.

Detrick said the community doesn’t realize all the firefighters do.

“They are putting lives on the line to serve the community plus fundraising and doing community outreach,” the supervisor said. “They put themselves out there and time away from work. And no one else is doing it. Why don’t they just walk away? The problem is this community doesn’t know. If it doesn’t affect anyone at the time, no one cares.

“This affects us all. People need to understand the consequences of this. If we don’t do anything. We need to educate people on what volunteer firemen are doing and they donate their life and time.”

Resident Martha Rezelli also spoke at the meeting.

“People coming from cities or big townships, from out of state and western Pa. with paid fire companies are not realizing the Ross fire department is not paid for here,” she said.

Greg Gill, another resident, suggested more the department engage in more creative fundraising.

In concluding the meeting, the motion was made to discuss the issue again in October.