Firefighter Kosman recognized as she retires
She served with the department for 22 years
Trustee Melissa Augustine, pictured with Fire Chief Mel Morgan, presented a certificate of recognition to firefighter Laurie Kosman who served 22 years on the Hinckley Fire Department and retired July 1. Photo by CHRIS STUDOR
HINCKLEY – Having served on the Hinckley Fire Department for 22 years, firefighter Laurie Kosman has decided to hang up her red firefighter helmet. Kosman was recognized for her dedication to the department at the July 10 trustee meeting with trustees commenting that the Kosmans have been an integral part of the department for many years.
Kosman was hired in June 1995 under Fire Chief Bill Horton and officially retired July 1. Kosman was awarded firefighter of the year in 1998 and 1999. She has served as secretary for the Hinckley Fire Association for many years and secretary of the Medina County Firefighters Association for the past seven years. She is a Star of Life recipient, CPR instructor and has served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT advanced. Kosman has also served a squad engineer.
Fire Chief Mel Morgan and trustee chairperson Ray Schulte spoke of the dedication of the Kosman family, explaining how Laurie’s father, Ed Kosman, had served on the Hinckley Fire Department for 15 years and advanced to the rank of assistant chief. Her father was also awarded firefighter of the year two times.
Firefighter Educator Lydia Wochna spoke about Kosman and how she served as a mentor to her and other firefighters when they were new to the department.
“I want to thank Laurie for her service, she was always there to answer any questions and served as a mentor to so many of us,” said Wochna.
Trustee Melissa Augustine presented Kosman with a certificate of recognition.
In other action at the trustee meeting:
• Trustees accepted the donation from the estate of Marie Marshall as follows: $5,000 to the Hinckley Fire Department; $5,000 to the Hinckley Emergency Medical unit of the Fire Department; and $5,000 to the Hinckley Police Department. Morgan and Police Chief Tim Kalavsky expressed their “appreciation for the generous gift.”
• Augustine thanked the Brunswick Rotary Club for their donation of four AED units. The Brunswick Rotary Club regularly hosts fundraising events with proceeds going to local charities. Three of the AED units will go to the police department and a fourth unit to the fire department (this unit is a backpack unit which can be used in the field).
Augustine said, “We are thrilled to have this donation and we are very grateful to the Brunswick Rotary Club, this is a wonderful donation.”
• Trustees approved an appropriation of $1,651 for the Medina County Soil and Water Conservation Department to be used for public education and outreach programs.
• Resident and former trustee Ron Rhodes inquired about the trustees’ plan for future road repairs. Schulte reviewed the township’s application to for a loan/grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). He said the township had a very good chance of receiving the grant. If received, the grant/loan would be for $400,000 at 0 percent interest payable over 20 years; target areas would include the second half of Brookside Estates and Salem Court. He added that if the fire levy is approved this fall, some general fund monies spent of fire equipment would be available to use for additional road repairs.
• Road superintendent Darren Newcomer gave the June department hours worked as follows: roads, 452; cemetery, 20; general, three; fire, four; police, two; and a total 481. Work completed included: ditching on Laurel Road, septic system inspection; roadside mowing all township roads; replacement of cross culverts on Kellogg Road and Marland Drive; one cremation burial at Maple Hill Cemetery; completed cold patching on Brookside Boulevard; installed catch basin/grade/seed on Maple Hill Drive; cleaned out fire training building; did asphalt patching on Kellogg Road, Marland Drive and Michelle Ridge; cleaned catch basins; delivered two snow plows to Henderson Inc., for repairs; mulched flowerbeds at the township hall, police department, parks and cemeteries; and held production meeting with Karvo Inc. to discuss road paving details.
Kosman was hired in June 1995 under Fire Chief Bill Horton and officially retired July 1. Kosman was awarded firefighter of the year in 1998 and 1999. She has served as secretary for the Hinckley Fire Association for many years and secretary of the Medina County Firefighters Association for the past seven years. She is a Star of Life recipient, CPR instructor and has served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT advanced. Kosman has also served a squad engineer.
Fire Chief Mel Morgan and trustee chairperson Ray Schulte spoke of the dedication of the Kosman family, explaining how Laurie’s father, Ed Kosman, had served on the Hinckley Fire Department for 15 years and advanced to the rank of assistant chief. Her father was also awarded firefighter of the year two times.
Firefighter Educator Lydia Wochna spoke about Kosman and how she served as a mentor to her and other firefighters when they were new to the department.
“I want to thank Laurie for her service, she was always there to answer any questions and served as a mentor to so many of us,” said Wochna.
Trustee Melissa Augustine presented Kosman with a certificate of recognition.
In other action at the trustee meeting:
• Trustees accepted the donation from the estate of Marie Marshall as follows: $5,000 to the Hinckley Fire Department; $5,000 to the Hinckley Emergency Medical unit of the Fire Department; and $5,000 to the Hinckley Police Department. Morgan and Police Chief Tim Kalavsky expressed their “appreciation for the generous gift.”
• Augustine thanked the Brunswick Rotary Club for their donation of four AED units. The Brunswick Rotary Club regularly hosts fundraising events with proceeds going to local charities. Three of the AED units will go to the police department and a fourth unit to the fire department (this unit is a backpack unit which can be used in the field).
Augustine said, “We are thrilled to have this donation and we are very grateful to the Brunswick Rotary Club, this is a wonderful donation.”
• Trustees approved an appropriation of $1,651 for the Medina County Soil and Water Conservation Department to be used for public education and outreach programs.
• Resident and former trustee Ron Rhodes inquired about the trustees’ plan for future road repairs. Schulte reviewed the township’s application to for a loan/grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). He said the township had a very good chance of receiving the grant. If received, the grant/loan would be for $400,000 at 0 percent interest payable over 20 years; target areas would include the second half of Brookside Estates and Salem Court. He added that if the fire levy is approved this fall, some general fund monies spent of fire equipment would be available to use for additional road repairs.
• Road superintendent Darren Newcomer gave the June department hours worked as follows: roads, 452; cemetery, 20; general, three; fire, four; police, two; and a total 481. Work completed included: ditching on Laurel Road, septic system inspection; roadside mowing all township roads; replacement of cross culverts on Kellogg Road and Marland Drive; one cremation burial at Maple Hill Cemetery; completed cold patching on Brookside Boulevard; installed catch basin/grade/seed on Maple Hill Drive; cleaned out fire training building; did asphalt patching on Kellogg Road, Marland Drive and Michelle Ridge; cleaned catch basins; delivered two snow plows to Henderson Inc., for repairs; mulched flowerbeds at the township hall, police department, parks and cemeteries; and held production meeting with Karvo Inc. to discuss road paving details.