By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

LEBANON - City Council inched closer Tuesday to placing a 5.5-mill fire levy on the November ballot, giving the first of two required readings of enabling legislation.

Council's action followed a brief presentation by Fire Chief Michael Hannigan on the proposed five-year levy.

The levy would pay for a new fire engine and a new fire station near the Ohio State Highway Patrol post off Ohio 48.

The new station would be staffed by three firefighter/EMTs around the clock.

The new station would dramatically decrease response time to the city's southern neighborhoods, which at times is as high as 12 minutes, the chief said.

"It would cut seven minutes off the (response) time," Hannigan said.

Despite a 32 percent increase in emergency runs for this city of 17,000 since 1999, the city has only one fire station.

In 1999, the department responded to 607 fire calls; that number jumped to 804 last year.

The 4.5-mill levy which expires this year generates about $1.2 million annually. A 5.5-mill levy would bring about $2 million a year for the department, Hannigan said.

If the levy were to increase to 5.5 mills, the annual fire tax for the owner of a $100,000 home would grow from $157 to $192.