Walnut Township trustees revise fire contract wording, confirm $10,000 contract payment

The Walnut Township Board of Trustees met on Dec. 26, 2025 in New Ross and approved revised language for its fire protection contract while confirming a $10,000 annual contractual payment to the volunteer fire department.

The hour‑long discussion centered on how contract wording interacts with the township budget. Trustees said the contract as drafted contained a clause that could be read as placing primary insurance responsibility on the fire department even though the township is providing funds. After debate the board directed staff to remove the clause assigning "one‑third" of insurance costs to the department, to place $10,000 on the contract line as the township’s budgeted compensation and to mirror a $2,000 "cost of repairs" limit between the budget and contract so those lines align.

Why it matters: Trustees said they want the contract to protect the township legally while preserving the operational flexibility of the volunteer department. The board and staff discussed how the township will deliver funds (a check to the department or to the town for passing on) and agreed that the department may request additional specified funds from the board or the trustee as needed during the year.

The meeting record shows earlier routine approvals: the board approved prior minutes and a portion of the 2026 budget (motions recorded as passing with three yea votes, per the minutes), and trustees repeatedly sought clarity about which budget lines would cover insurance, operating supplies and capital outlay.

Budget details cited during the discussion included a contractual payment line of $10,000, operating supplies of $4,500, a repair/maintenance supplies line of $2,000 and capital outlay money intended to accumulate for larger projects. Board members said the 2026 budget overall was increased compared with 2025 to allow room for repairs, equipment and insurance coverage, and that unspent funds would remain in township accounts unless spent.

What happens next: Trustees asked staff to prepare the revised contract wording for the next meeting so the changes—removing the one‑third insurance obligation and confirming the $10,000 contractual payment—are reflected in an updated document ready for signature. The board also affirmed that if the department needs additional money during the year it may present receipts and request supplemental payments to the trustee or at a special meeting.

At the close of the discussion the board scheduled the next organizational meeting for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January.