Takeover Deal Closing IN Fire Department

Nov. 22 -- After more than 60 years of operation, the St. Joseph Township Volunteer Fire Department will cease to exist come Jan. 1 as the Fort Wayne Fire Department assumes responsibility for the unincorporated areas of the township on the city’s northeast side.

Trustee Sarah Gnagy, who was re-elected this month after questioning fire expenses and pointing out that just 6,000 of the township’s 80,000 residents live outside Fort Wayne’s city limits, said the seven-year agreement will provide around-the-clock, full-time fire protection for residents of unincorporated areas at no additional cost to the township.

Under the agreement, the township will make annual $250,000 payments to the city for fire protection services, a payment of $50,000 toward the lease of a new fire engine and $12,900 per year for inspection services. In exchange, the city will be lease the township fire station for $20,000 per year and will station police there, Gnagy said.

Township Fire Chief David Ringer, the only paid member of the 23-member department, said nearby city fire stations have about 26 members on duty at any given time, allowing the city to respond more quickly.

“This isn’t a political decision, we looked at it in 2010 and 2012. The township keeps changing, and this was a time to look at it all again. This is a positive thing,” Gnagy said.

Ringer, who opposed Gnagy in the May Republican primary, said he will remain on the job after Dec. 31 to help Gnagy with the transition, which includes the disposal of township fire equipment.

Ringer said all volunteer departments in Allen County, including his, have had trouble recruiting sufficient numbers of firefighters. With commercial growth in the township, Gnagy said, the need for improved fire service made this the time to make the change.

The contract does not affect ambulance service in the township, which has been provided by the Three Rivers Ambulance Authority.

No additional resources will be needed to serve the township’s residents, city officials say.

“The trustee asked for our help with providing the emergency fire response to the unincorporated area of St. Joe Township. Working together, we have found a way to give her that help in a way that is mutually beneficial for the citizens of both the city and the unincorporated area of St. Joe Township,” spokesman John Perlich said. “This is a partnership that we believe will meet fire protection needs and help save lives.”

___ (c)2018 The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Visit The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.) at www.news-sentinel.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.