In August, Van Buren and Bloomington townships each held public meetings to make the public aware of a proposed merger of the townships and the Monroe Fire Protection District. The merger would give fire departments more resources, at the cost of a slight increase in property taxes, said Dustin Dillard, Monroe Fire Protection District fire chief.
The proposed merger would take effect Jan. 1, 2021, and incorporate Van Buren and Bloomington townships into the district.
The district serves Perry, Clear Creek and Indian Creek townships, sending 5 vehicles when responding to calls in those townships. It also contracts with Salt Creek and Polk townships, sending 3 vehicles and receiving resources like water from the Pleasant Run Volunteer Fire Department in Lawrence County. Van Buren and Bloomington townships each have their own fire departments.
County commissioners will hold a meeting Sept. 11 if more than 50 people object to the merger. They will meet again Sept. 18 with their final decision, regardless of any objections.
Dillard said the merger would increase the county fire department’s staff by about 75%. He said the departments are now chronically understaffed.
“The county fire departments were operating with personnel numbers that were really 20 or 30 years behind,” he said.
Dillard said personnel are already busy because fire departments are treated like a “community toolbox.”
“If you can’t find the department that’s supposed to fix it, you call the fire department,” he said.
The merger would eliminate township lines when it comes to fire protection. Though the firehouses would stay, there would be new station response zones to ensure the closest station responds to calls.
Dillard said response time should stay the same if the merger takes effect, if not quicker. He said he thinks about 20% of the district would see a shorter response time.
Bloomington Township trustee Kim Alexander said the merger would depoliticize emergency services by giving more control to the county, rather than the township, such as having the budget approved by the county council.
“The fire department belongs to the county,” she said.
Van Buren Township trustee Rita Barrow said the merger would standardize procedures across all fire departments.
“They need to know how to respond to calls efficiently,” she said. “That way, they can help the most people and hopefully save their lives.”
The merger would come with an increase in property taxes. Dillard said a third-party consultant estimated that a $100,000 home would incur a maximum increase of about 14% in property taxes.
“It most likely will not be that high, but it’s a worst-case scenario,” Dillard said.
Alexander said Bloomington Township residents would likely fluctuate, then end up about the same amount they are now in three years.
Barrow said Van Buren Township residents would only have about a 3% increase in property taxes, which would be gradual throughout the first few years after the merger.
Along with the increased taxes, Dillard said people have also expressed concern about the status of the fire district in the case of annexation, if the city increases its jurisdictional boundaries. He said they worry about paying for something that may stop applying to them.
“Once you’re in the fire district, you’re not going to be annexed as far as fire protection,” he said. “The city can annex, but the fire district’s still going to be your fire department.”
Alexander said this is due to a state law allowing townships to join a district without giving up their tax moneyfor fire departments.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly featured a photo of the City of Bloomington Fire Department. It has been updated to include a picture of the Perry — Clear Creek Volunteer Fire Department. The IDS regrets this error.
