Fire department faces uncertain future again

ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - For the second year in a row, the future of the St. Joseph Township is uncertain.

Trustee Richard Uhrick has interest in outsourcing fire service and closing the community’s volunteer fire department.  He has taken steps to contract the coverage with the Fort Wayne Fire Department.

According to Uhrick, the move would better protect the township’s 5,000 residents for the money spent on operating a volunteer department opened to serve a larger population before annexations.

“It’s not fair for those unincorporated area people to be paying for a 40,000 people fire department,” Uhrick said.

Fire Chief Jerry Lencke said he and the department’s 30 active members will fight to keep fighting fires the same way they did in 2011.  The same discussion of outsourcing was brought to the township advisory board for a vote when the decision was made to eliminate EMS service but keep the fire department.

“Why do you want to take people that volunteer their time and have the state certifications to serve and protect, the people that they are ordered to do so and why do they have to fight for that? ” Lencke asked.

If the decision is a matter of money, Lencke said he would like to be included in the conversation.  He questioned why the budget for fire service was raised by about $25,000 when finances are suggested as a reason for eliminating the volunteer department.  According to the chief, he has made requests to see budget expenses that have not been granted.

“Respond to the reasons why you [Uhrick] want this fire department gone,” Lencke said.  “It’s not economic or you wouldn’t have just raised the budget.  Respond to the people when they have questions for you.  Respond to the media when they interview you because if you’ve got a story to tell and it’s a good story that makes financial sense then the board would probably say, and I would probably agree that ‘OK, if it makes sense then I understand.’ But, it doesn’t make sense.”

Closing the fire department would be detrimental to communities outside of St. Joseph Township, said Mike Feely, president of the Allen County Chief’s Association.  Stations like St. Joseph’s are often called to be included in mutual aids during large fires throughout the county.

“Anytime you are looking at closing a fire station and/or impacting the manpower on staffing, it’s going to have an effect on your responses,” Feely said.

The trustee and advisory board will meet on Tuesday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Township Trustee office located at 6033 Maplecrest Rd.  The meeting has been scheduled for the board to sign the 2013 budget which would include funds for a fire service contract.  Trustee Uhrick said the budget will not specify to whom the contract would be awarded.