(ANGOLA) - A series of public meetings has been scheduled to gather input on a proposed joint fire territory that would combine fire services for the City of Angola and Pleasant Township.
The Herald Republican reports the four meetings will be held at 4 p.m. at the Pleasant Township Trustee's Office, located at 2510 North County Road 200 West.
The first three meetings -- February 19, February 24, and March 10 -- will allow residents to provide public comment either in person or through written statements. A final meeting on March 23 will include a joint vote by both governing bodies on whether to adopt the new fire territory. The public is encouraged to attend the meetings.
Under the proposal, the joint fire territory would be governed by a five-member board, with two appointments each from the city and township and a fifth member selected by the board. The territory would replace the city's current contract-based fire service arrangement with a unified funding model.
Currently, Angola provides fire protection to Pleasant Township through annual service fees. The proposed structure would establish a single tax rate shared by all residents within the territory, allowing for joint funding of personnel, equipment, and long-term capital needs.
Subject matter experts will attend the first three meetings to explain governance, financial impacts, and insurance considerations. According to Martin, insurance officials have indicated the change is unlikely to negatively affect homeowner policies and could improve ratings in some cases.
If approved, the joint fire territory could also allow additional townships to join in the future.