A local business owner came to the rescue after Franklin Township supervisors denied the Prospect Borough/Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department’s request for $1,800 to purchase pagers last week.

Nate Blackwood, the fire department’s chief, said the pagers are badly needed. The new pagers would receive all emergency communications in Butler County. The devices the department currently uses only receive communications from 911 dispatch.

But at a meeting last Monday, two of the three township supervisors didn’t advance the proposal. Supervisor Nathan Wulff presented the donation request to fellow supervisors Herman Bauer Jr. and Robert Thompson, but neither seconded the motion.

Wulff said he was disappointed the other supervisors wouldn’t support the department.

Blackwood said the donation was denied on the grounds that the department receives a fire tax from the township.

“They said they wouldn’t give any money because of the fire tax,” Blackwood said. “But the tax is coming from the residents’ money, not the township’s money. I understand where they’re coming from. We have a difference of opinion. I’m a volunteer firefighter myself, so I know those pagers are absolutely essential.”

Enter Gerald Rumburg Jr., owner of Michael’s Restaurant. After the supervisors denied the request for money for the pagers, Rumburg wrote a check to pay for the pagers and gave it to Blackwood, saying that if the township wouldn’t support the project, he would.

“We’re fortunate to have him step up and support us,” Blackwood said. “That covered the pagers, between the borough and the business donation.”

Wulff was supportive of the donation despite the fire tax.

“Even if that’s the case, I think we should still support the fire department,” he said. “Of the 30 residents in that room, I think every single one was shocked they wouldn’t give money to the department.”

Blackwood said if this pattern continues, the department will have to continually rely on the community.

“There were quite a few other (residents) who expressed disappointment in the township,” he said. “We’re going to depend on the community if the township won’t support us.”

We applaud Rumberg’s generosity.

— JGG