Giving Stow a shock - the AED proposal

My notes from last night’s meetings are below:

AED TAX CREDIT — I am excited to announce legislation I’m proposing that will make Automated External Defibrillators (“AEDs”) more prevalent within the city.

Some background: About 300,000 Americans suffer cardiac arrest every year outside of the hospital. Of those, 47.3 percent are witnessed by another person.

Sudden cardiac arrest happens to people who often do not have a prior history of heart issues. The heart suddenly begins to spasm and refuses to pump blood. If an AED is used to shock the heart back into rhythm in a timely manner (with CPR being applied in the interim), then the person has a really good chance to be just fine.

Still, when Stow EMS arrives on the scene, only about 10 or 11 percent of victims survive. But it doesn’t have to be that way. A person who is trained in CPR and who uses an AED can easily save a life.

Fire Chief Bill Kalbaugh and Division Chief Lou Ann Metz attended my Roads & Safety Committee meeting and reinforced just how critical CPR and AEDs can be. People between the ages of 35 and 65 are the ones most likely saved by an AED.

My legislation will give a 50% tax credit to any individual or business who purchases an AED (with a cap at $2,500). It will require proper maintenance and use solely within the city. My hope is that every church, business with numerous employees and other place where people gather in Stow will take advantage of this opportunity. If the legislation saves even one life, it’s worth it.

We are still fine-tuning this proposal. This type of tax credit has been offered in at least one state, but — to my knowledge — not by a city. In fact, it will be somewhat groundbreaking for a city in Ohio to give a tax credit for any reason not specifically listed in the Revised Code. So, if successful, perhaps this will catch on.

We will continue the discussion on the AED tax credit at the next Roads & Safety Committee meeting.

GATOR GETTER

Hats off to the Service Department for identifying yet another innovative piece of equipment. The “Gator Getter” is an attachment to the front of a truck that scoops up large pieces of debris from the road — and it can do so at 55 miles per hour.

Currently, if there is a mattress or tire on Route 8, our service department employees close down one or more lanes of Route 8 and manually pick it up. It’s one of the most dangerous activities any city employee does.

With the Gator Getter, it takes only one employee, no lanes need to be closed and no one is put at risk.

Now, for the financials: The Gator Getter costs $23,595, but we are applying for a grant that will cover all but $5,500 of it. As you’ll see in this video, the Gator Getter is very useful. I’d be willing to purchase one, even if the grant does not come through.

SENIOR SNOWPLOW PROGRAM

We authorized the continuation of the Senior Snowplow Program, which started in 2007. In that winter, we spent $33,000. Last year, we spent only $5,418. We approved $10,000 for this winter.

Costs have fallen for a few reasons. A lot obviously depends on how many large snowfalls occur. Second, we are ensuring that only financially needy seniors are receiving this benefit. Third, my proposal to reform the program now requires only an affidavit of financial need, not boxes of financial documents to prove a senior’s financial status — which cuts down employee hours devoted to the program and also minimizes the risk for identity theft of our seniors.

GOING ON RECESS

Every year, I give you the same rant. So here it is again: City Council is on a month-long recess. Why a body that meets only four times a month needs a recess is beyond me. But that’s government. We will hold committee meetings on Monday, September 9, with the council meeting to follow on September 12.

Also, please join Matt Riehl and me for our monthly meeting with residents on Tuesday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor conference room at City Hall.