Public Hearing Set To Discuss Local Fire Territories
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The hearing will be Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at Warsaw City Hall, 302 E. Market St., to consider a proposed ordinance for the establishment of the proposed fire territory.[[In-content Ad]]Winona Lake Town Council also will meet at city hall Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. to adopt the ordinance for the establishment of the territory.
If enacted, the ordinance will establish the Warsaw Fire Territory with Warsaw as the fire services provider unit, Wayne Township participating as a unit, and also Winona Lake as a participating unit.
Warsaw currently is contractually providing fire protection for Wayne Township, but what a fire territory would do is spread the cost over a wider population base, according to Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins.
The proposed ordinance will establish uniform tax rates within the Warsaw Fire Territory.
A copy of the proposed ordinance is available for inspection by the public on all business days during regular business hours at the office of the Winona Lake clerk treasurer, and also will be made available for inspection at the public hearing.
Jim Lancaster, Winona Lake Town Council vice president, who serves as a liaison between Winona Lake and Warsaw and Wayne Township, said the town has been in discussion with Warsaw and Wayne Township regarding the fire territory.
He said Winona Lake Town Council has not yet approved joining with Warsaw and Wayne Township for the proposed fire territory.
Lancaster said Winona Lake is currently in the process of reviewing financial considerations and how fire service protection for the town's residents would be affected if the town decides to join the proposed fire territory.
Lancaster said $0.0078 of the $0.42 tax levy for Winona Lake currently is allocated to support the volunteer fire department.
He said, by the town having a volunteer fire department, the tax levies are low expenses.
He said the town conducted a study to determine the financial impact of the proposed fire territory.
Lancaster said the two options reviewed from the study supplied to Winona Lake from Warsaw would have the tax levy rate for Winona Lake increase from $0.0078 to $0.14 or $0.25.
Lancaster said another consideration is fire service protection and how the fire service protection for the residents of Winona Lake would be impacted by the proposed combined fire territory.
Lancaster said the Winona Lake Volunteer Fire Department has a rich history of serving the town's people and the highest level of fire protection at a very reasonable cost due to the volunteer nature of the department.
"One of our utmost concerns is making sure whatever decision is ultimately made, it is made with a view toward protecting the long-term viability of the outstanding fire department we currently have," Lancaster said.
People seeking additional information can call 574-267-5783.
The hearing will be Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at Warsaw City Hall, 302 E. Market St., to consider a proposed ordinance for the establishment of the proposed fire territory.[[In-content Ad]]Winona Lake Town Council also will meet at city hall Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. to adopt the ordinance for the establishment of the territory.
If enacted, the ordinance will establish the Warsaw Fire Territory with Warsaw as the fire services provider unit, Wayne Township participating as a unit, and also Winona Lake as a participating unit.
Warsaw currently is contractually providing fire protection for Wayne Township, but what a fire territory would do is spread the cost over a wider population base, according to Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins.
The proposed ordinance will establish uniform tax rates within the Warsaw Fire Territory.
A copy of the proposed ordinance is available for inspection by the public on all business days during regular business hours at the office of the Winona Lake clerk treasurer, and also will be made available for inspection at the public hearing.
Jim Lancaster, Winona Lake Town Council vice president, who serves as a liaison between Winona Lake and Warsaw and Wayne Township, said the town has been in discussion with Warsaw and Wayne Township regarding the fire territory.
He said Winona Lake Town Council has not yet approved joining with Warsaw and Wayne Township for the proposed fire territory.
Lancaster said Winona Lake is currently in the process of reviewing financial considerations and how fire service protection for the town's residents would be affected if the town decides to join the proposed fire territory.
Lancaster said $0.0078 of the $0.42 tax levy for Winona Lake currently is allocated to support the volunteer fire department.
He said, by the town having a volunteer fire department, the tax levies are low expenses.
He said the town conducted a study to determine the financial impact of the proposed fire territory.
Lancaster said the two options reviewed from the study supplied to Winona Lake from Warsaw would have the tax levy rate for Winona Lake increase from $0.0078 to $0.14 or $0.25.
Lancaster said another consideration is fire service protection and how the fire service protection for the residents of Winona Lake would be impacted by the proposed combined fire territory.
Lancaster said the Winona Lake Volunteer Fire Department has a rich history of serving the town's people and the highest level of fire protection at a very reasonable cost due to the volunteer nature of the department.
"One of our utmost concerns is making sure whatever decision is ultimately made, it is made with a view toward protecting the long-term viability of the outstanding fire department we currently have," Lancaster said.
People seeking additional information can call 574-267-5783.
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