SUMMIT TWP — Supervisors voted Wednesday, Oct. 4, to request Lick Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Herman Volunteer Fire Company submit audits within 30 days before the township allocates money it received through the state’s Fire Relief Aid.

The township received a little over $27,000 through Fire Relief Aid, and it usually splits the money equally between the two volunteer fire departments that serve Summit Township. However, the supervisors agreed they would like to review a 2022 audit from each department before distributing the money.

“I don’t know that there is anything wrong, it’s just taxpayer dollars that are going there,” said Willie Adams, supervisor chairman. “We just want to make sure to keep it a little more under our thumbs before things can get out of hand.”

Supervisor Richard Green said the supervisors might make a motion later to request an audit from each department on an annual basis. This is the first time the township has requested an audit report from either fire department. The supervisors have 60 days from accepting the money to distribute it to the fire departments, Green said.

Adams added that Herman VFC has been taking on covering more territory within Summit Township recently.

Adams also said the supervisors have a meeting with administrators of Lick Hill VFD scheduled for Oct. 11.

“I don’t know if the meeting we have next week will change our minds, but I want to wait until after the meeting,” Adams said. “We just want to make sure the public is served.”