Medina County and Westfield Township Clash Over Waste Facility Fire Costs

Township officials say repeated emergency responses are straining their small fire department's resources.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:20pm

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Westfield Township officials in Medina County, Ohio are seeking financial assistance from the county to cover the costs of their fire department repeatedly responding to fires at the county's solid waste transfer facility. The township says the fires, often caused by discarded lithium-ion batteries, are straining their small fire department's resources, but the county says the township does not have the legal authority to directly bill the county. The two sides are now discussing a potential memorandum of understanding to provide financial assistance to the township.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the challenges small local governments can face when dealing with issues that impact their resources, like repeated emergency responses to a county-run facility. It also raises questions about who should bear the costs of addressing safety and environmental issues at waste facilities.

The details

Westfield Township officials say their fire department has responded to 13 incidents at or connected to the Medina County Solid Waste District facility since 2023, including a recent fire in the back of a trash hauler that kept firefighters on scene for over four hours. The township's small fire department, staffed by a chief and part-time firefighters with only two typically on shift, is already operating on a tight budget after voters rejected fire levies four times since 2012. The township passed a resolution in January seeking to bill the county for each response, but the county prosecutor's office determined the township does not have the legal authority to do so.

  • Since 2023, Westfield Township firefighters have responded to 13 incidents at or connected to the Medina County Solid Waste District facility.
  • In January 2026, Westfield Township trustees passed a resolution seeking to bill the county for each emergency response to the waste facility.

The players

Westfield Township

A township in Medina County, Ohio with a small fire department that has been repeatedly responding to fires at the county's solid waste transfer facility.

Medina County

The county in Ohio that operates the solid waste transfer facility that has experienced multiple fires, straining the resources of the Westfield Township fire department.

Jim Likley

A Westfield Township trustee who says the repeated calls to the county's waste facility place a strain on the township's small fire department.

Steve Hambley

A Medina County commissioner who said the county prosecutor's office determined the township does not have the legal authority to bill the county directly for emergency responses.

Matt Springer

The Medina County administrator who will meet with township officials to discuss potential financial assistance.

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What they’re saying

“We get called to that facility with our resources, and there's no way or no means to collect for that service.”

— Jim Likley, Westfield Township Trustee

“We could use district funds to provide financial assistance to mitigate the impacts on health, safety and welfare of having that transfer facility there.”

— Steve Hambley, Medina County Commissioner

What’s next

County Administrator Matt Springer and Solid Waste District Manager Barbara Walton will meet with Westfield Township officials to discuss a potential memorandum of understanding that could provide financial assistance to help offset the cost of emergency responses to the waste facility.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the challenges small local governments can face when dealing with issues that impact their resources, like repeated emergency responses to a county-run facility. It also raises questions about who should bear the costs of addressing safety and environmental issues at waste facilities.