Putnam Sentinel Editor

OTTAWA — Voters spoke as they voted down a county-wide fire protection levy. The levy was rejected by voters by a 3 to 1 margin.
If passed, the levy was going to pay for the purchase and maintenance of two county-wide heavy rescue vehicles that were expected to be housed in Leipsic and Kalida. A county-wide ladder truck was also going to be purchased with the money generated and would have replaced the truck in Ottawa.

Ottawa fire chief Dan Rieman was disappointed that the levy did not pass. “I was hoping the county would have done better than it did,” said Rieman.

Rieman said the current ladder truck in Ottawa continues to cost the village money for repairs. According to Rieman the truck was put back into operation but only after many costly repairs.