Bluffton council, Lancaster Township, and Harrison Township work together to create a new fire territory
By MARK MILLER
In the end, it didn’t take very long.
In a brief joint meeting Thursday evening in Bluffton’s council chambers, representatives from the city, Lancaster Township and Harrison Township adopted and approved documents to establish the Bluffton Fire Protection Territory. Signed, sealed, delivered.
While it had been a long process, “it was not contentious, it was collaborative,” said Bluffton Common Council president Scott Mentzer, who led much of the effort. “It makes me so proud of our community,” he continued after the proceedings. “It was all data-driven, and it became self-evident that this was the way to go forward.”
Jeff Bellamy, an Indianapolis attorney who has been working with the three governmental entities, chaired the public meeting, explaining that after three public hearings and other open discussions during Buffton’s council meetings, Thursday’s meeting afforded the opportunity to still deliberate among themselves and between the three entities and to ask any remaining questions.
Hearing none, Mentzer placed a motion forward that the city “join and adopt” Ordinance 1589. At-large councilman Rick Elwell seconded, noting that “we’ve walked through this, we’ve examined the data. I feel good about this.”
Janella Stronczek, 3rd District representative, joined the two to pass the motion. Council members Josh Hunt and Chandler Gerber were absent.
Lancaster Township Advisory Board president Andy Wolf moved they adopt that township’s resolutions. Board member Rick Smith seconded and board member Greg Steel joined the two in unanimous approval.
Jim Bowman then entered a motion for Harrison Township to join the new territory; Diane Markley seconded. With fellow board member Susan Popplewell absent, Harrison officially approved as well. Both township trustees — Harrison’s Kyle Hunt and Lancaster’s David Rigney — were also in attendance as was Bluffton Mayor John Whicker.
“I have fully supported this,” Whicker said after the meeting adjourned less than 30 minutes after it had started. “I really appreciate the townships. They saw clearly that we just could not continue providing fire protection as we have been.” He also expressed his appreciation to Mentzer for “driving the bus.”
Lancaster Township’s Andy Wolf was equally complimentary on the process. “Everyone came in level-headed,” he said. “It was done the way it should be.”
There had been some issues involving representation on the fire territory’s board, Wolf explained. There were concerns about the proper representation from the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the townships — whether enough representatives would be on the board from outside the Bluffton city limits. That resulted in expanding the board from the original proposal of five members to seven.
“I’m excited to see where this is all going,” said Bluffton Fire Chief Don Craig as he watched the various representatives sign the documents.
Bellamy and Greg Guerrettaz of Financial Solutions Group who has also been working with the three entities, explained “what’s next.” The resolutions and ordinance to establish the Cumulative Equipment Replacement Fund was not advertised in time for its adoption Thursday. He will be back for the April 18 city council meeting to have those approved. Then all the documents will be submitted to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance for final approvals. Bellamy does not anticipate any issues but, as he said at the March 14 council meeting, “I can’t guarantee anything.”
If all goes well, the city and townships should have everything they need from the state sometime in June, “enough time to begin your budget process,” Bellamy said.
“You all really are to be commended,” he told those assembled. He singled out Mentzer and Craig, noting that he will use the fire chief’s report in guiding other fire departments that are seeking new territories.
“Your constituents need to know they are well represented,” he concluded.
miller@news-banner.com
