[Honews] Fire Protection

[Robert Headrick]

I have pasted a copy of an email sent to me by Jamie Noel (Chief of New
Chapel Fire and Rescue).  The township trustee is pushing for a county
wide district.  We absolutely do not want this.  This would take our tax
base, the largest in the entire county, and spread it out among the
other districts.  The fire district proposed by our fire department
would keep our money in our district, to provide more full time staff
and new equipment.  There is only one district in the entire county that
wants a county wide district, the rest are opposed.  I would like to
have a high attendance at this meeting to let the commissioner's know
what we want.  If you are able to attend, please do so.

Robert Headrick






The Floyd County Commissioners will hold a special meeting just prior
to their regular meeting on TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2006, 5:30PM on the 2nd
Floor of City-County Bldg.  to hear the fire district proposal from New
Chapel Fire Co. to create the New Albany-Franklin Township Fire
Protection District along with the other county fire departments.
 
    New Chapel Fire Co., Lafayette Twp. Fire Dept., and Georgetown
Township Fire Dept. all will present petitions to the commissioners for
consideration to approve each fire service area independent fire
districts to keep funds in each fire service (township) area.  New
Albany Township Trustee Tom Cannon has submitted a letter to the
commissioners in favor of a county wide fire district. The county fire
departments (except Greenville FD) is against a county wide district and
in favor of fire service area districts to keep funds in the respective
communities.
 
    If this fire district is approved, an independent three person
board from the community with fire service knowledge will be appointed
by the Floyd County Commissioners to oversee funding of the fire
department. The board members cannot be members of the New Chapel Fire
Co. and this board will replace the Township Trustees authority to
provide fire protection.  
 
    I would like to ask as many of our community members attend this
meeting to show support for the New Albany-Franklin Township Fire
Protection District. The small portion of Franklin Township is the area
New Chapel currently services on SR111 south and Budd Road area. 
 
    If you have any questions please call me on my cell phone
(502)639-4973. If you cannot attend please call or write the Floyd Co.
Commissioners to show your support:      
        Floyd County Commissioners     (812)948-5466
        City County Bldg. 
        New Albany, IN 47150  
 
Yours in safety,
 
Chief Jamey Noel
New Chapel Fire Co.