Centerville councilors and fire chief say a state lawmaker’s proposal could cost local lives if fire protection territories are dissolved. The same bill would also dissolve township governments.
At their Jan. 14 meeting, council President Dan Wandersee discussed a few bills being considered by Indiana General Assembly, especially House Bill 1233 on local government reorganization. It affects all counties but Marion. Summaries of bills can be found at iga.in.gov.
Wandersee said HB 1233’s consequences could be scary for fire protection and emergency medical services throughout Wayne County, starting in 2027.
If approved, county executives would take over fire protection and emergency services responsibilities from township trustees. Each county’s emergency management director would be its fire chief. Counties also must develop comprehensive fire plans.
Wandersee said homeowners’ insurance rates are based on firefighters’ response times and equipment, and he thinks those costs will increase if fire protection changes.
Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association says the bill could mean slower emergency response times and reduce local input in fire protection.
Centerville Fire/Rescue Chief Andy Aughe said volunteers conducted 43 runs in December (11 fire, 29 medical and three others). Between Nov. 1, 2023, and Nov. 1, 2024, they had 643 runs.
Wandersee said bill author Karen Engleman (R-District 70) claims eliminating township government would save money, but he believes county staff would expand to oversee less effective relief and wouldn’t know the residents like township trustees do. The bill says an elected county trustee would assume township trustees’ duties regarding township assistance.
Wandersee sees a similar pattern in HB 1193 that would abolish township assessors and transfer that work to county offices.
Councilor Jack Bodiker said he doesn’t believe a “unigovernment” approach will save taxpayers, and could negatively impact safety and lives.
The bill requires incorporated towns of less than 1,000 residents to report services and operating costs by Nov. 1, and every four years thereafter. County councils would dissolve those towns if operating costs exceed expenditures for delivery of services to residents.
Wandersee said residents need to speak up about “bad bills” being pushed through the legislature, and Bodiker said he would contact State Rep. Brad Barrett and Sen. Jeff Raatz to express his concerns on HB 1233.
Wandersee said he’d evaluate additional bills and discuss any he thinks would affect Centerville at the 7 p.m. Jan. 28 work session at 220 E. Main St.
In other business
Utility billing: Clerk-Treasurer Sarah Rice received council’s permission to switch billing systems from Clover to Authorize because residents have faced difficulties while attempting to enter information and pay online. Town website managers confirmed Clover was responsible, not the town’s website, and recommended Authorize.
Building commissioner: Five code enforcement investigations took place in December. Three were cleared with no enforcement; two were unfounded. Four building permits were issued.
Police, December activity: Criminal investigations — theft (two); fraud (one). Ten arrests — Domestic battery (three) and one each for neglect of a dependent, resisting law enforcement, operating while intoxicated, criminal recklessness, reckless driving, battery and false reporting. Police received 289 calls. Eighty-seven vehicle stops were made, with 30 state tickets and four warning tickets issued.
Attorney: Council renewed Ed Martin’s annual contract.
A version of this article appeared in the January 22 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.