Commissioners approve Allen County Fire & EMS District name change and unification ordinance

The Allen County Board of Commissioners voted 2-0 on July 10 to rename the Northeast Allen County Fire Protection District to the Allen County Fire & EMS District and to approve a unification ordinance that combines four existing fire districts and East Central Fire Territory, and expands service to Jackson, Madison and Monroe townships including Monroeville. Executive Fire Chief Jeremy Bush told the board that representatives engaged taxpayers in 27 communities over the past year to explain the changes and answer questions.

Bush said contracts, budget oversight, infrastructure and IT software are among items the executive committee has discussed; he added that Baker Tilly provided budget oversight and former city controller Garry Morr consulted on finances. Commissioner Richard Beck said the commissioners are the only body that can create a fire district and framed the unification as a response to a reduction in volunteer firefighters, calling for an "aggressive timeline" to implement the changes. The board approved Ordinance 07-10-26-12 (name change) and Ord. No. 07-10-26-11 (unification) by 2-0 votes.