INDIANAPOLIS, IND. (WOWO) Residents in the Village of Pioneer are moving forward with petition efforts following last month’s mass resignation of nearly the entire fire department, according to community organizers. The Lead Off Pioneer residents are circulating two petitions following a fire dep artment walkout last month One effort seeks the resignation of the village mayor, while another proposes a charter government vote Village leadership says a new fire chief has been appointed and services remain operational Community meeting outlines petition efforts Community members gathered Saturday at Crommer Park in Pioneer, Ohio, where advocate Danielle Harrison outlined two proposed petition drives targeting village leadership. The efforts follow a mass resignation of firefighters last month that left the village without most of its fire department personnel. Harrison said the petitions are intended to increase accountability in local government. “It takes a lot of strength and a lot of courage to speak out against somebody in power,” Harrison said. Petitions target leadership, governance structure According to organizers, one petition seeks to encourage Mayor Ed Kidston to resign. A second petition would place the question of establishing a village charter government on the ballot, which proponents say could give residents more direct control over how the village is governed. Harrison said both efforts are designed to give residents a stronger voice in local decision-making. Mayor responds to fire department concerns Mayor Ed Kidston provided a statement to WTOL 11 responding to the situation, saying a new fire chief has been appointed and operations continue. Kidston said Don Bertke, a 25-year veteran and former assistant chief, was confirmed by council as Pioneer Fire Chief after serving in an interim role. He said the previous leadership left following an 18-month probation period. “No one was fired – No one was let go,” Kidston said in the statement. Kidston added that the village has continued operating with a rebuilt fire department and mutual aid support from Williams County while staffing is expanded. He also said he does not support the petition efforts and noted that recall elections are not available under village rules. Dispute over cause of resignations Harrison disputed the mayor’s explanation that resignations were tied to “fear of accountability,” saying volunteer firefighters were acting in service to the community. “Especially with volunteer firefighters, they are volunteering their time to keep a community safe,” Harrison said. “This is just earth shattering and heartbreaking for them.” The fire department resignations left the village relying on interim staffing and mutual aid services while rebuilding personnel levels. Petition circulation planned Harrison said petition circulation will begin soon, with signatures to be collected in person. She said additional details, including times and locations for signing opportunities, will be posted on social media and online platforms in the coming days. Organizers also plan door-to-door outreach efforts in the community as the campaign moves forward. The Takeaway Residents in Pioneer, Ohio, are organizing petition drives following the resignation of nearly the entire village fire department, which has raised concerns about local leadership and emergency services. One petition effort seeks the resignation of Mayor Ed Kidston, while another proposes a vote on establishing a village charter government to change how the community is governed. Village officials say a new fire chief has been appointed and mutual aid support remains in place, while organizers plan to begin collecting signatures in person in the coming weeks. The post Village leadership faces petition effort following Pioneer fire department walkout appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less