7/14/2006
Media Contact:
Justin Ohlemiller, [317] 327-3690 |
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Firefighters, business leaders call on council to approve fire merger
INDIANAPOLIS – The leaders of several prominent organizations representing businesses across the city and state and the presidents of state and local firefighters unions today called on the City-County Council to approve the merger of the Washington Township Fire Department (WTFD) into the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD).
The council will vote Monday, July 17 on Proposal 369, which will create efficiencies and enhance fire service in neighborhoods at no cost to taxpayers through consolidating the two departments by January 1, 2007.
“We appreciate the business community and the firefighters showing their strong support for this common sense plan that will improve public safety and save taxpayer money,” Mayor Peterson said. “The council has the opportunity on Monday to make history by bringing these two, world-class fire departments together to the benefit of residents, businesses and neighborhoods.”
The leaders of the following organizations this week submitted letters of support calling on the council to approve the merger:
-The International Association of Fire Fighters;
-The Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana;
-The Indianapolis Metropolitan Professional Fire Fighters Local 416;
-The Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors;
-The Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce;
-The Indiana Chamber of Commerce; and
-The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership.
Several current and past government leaders also wrote letters reiterating their support for consolidating the two fire departments, including former City-County Council President Dr. Beurt SerVaas, IFD Fire Chief James Greeson, WTFD Fire Chief Joe Anderson, and Washington Township Board President Joe Simpson.
The consolidation means the area formerly served by WTFD will officially become part of the IFD service district. The new IFD service district created by the merger will incorporate the Washington Township name to maintain the history and tradition of WTFD.
The merger of IFD and WTFD will improve service by:
- Ensuring all fire engines and apparatus will be staffed according to levels called for by national fire service standards, which means four firefighters will be assigned to each fire engine and ladder. This is an enhancement of current WTFD staffing levels;
- Bringing additional specialized fire services to Washington Township, including hazardous materials, heavy extrication and water rescue operations.
The merger agreement also outlines that:
- Property tax rates for fire service will be frozen in Washington Township at least through 2008;
- Ambulance service in Washington Township will continue to be operated by the fire department, covering the same service area it does now;
- Ambulances will now be staffed by qualified civilian paramedics and EMTs, rather than firefighters; and
- IFD will continue all of the community outreach activities initiated WTFD, including holding the annual safety festival, teaching public safety techniques to township schools and providing free smoke detectors to residents.
Background. Last month Washington Township Trustee Gwen Horth and Mayor Peterson announced that an agreement had been reached to merge WTFD into IFD. The agreement was then ratified by the Washington Township Board.
During the announcement, Horth stated that she wanted the merger “to serve as a model for other townships,” and that the agreement “will show that fire consolidation can be done seamlessly, provide enhanced service for residents and save taxpayer money.”
During the 2005 legislative session, the General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 307, which permits each township in Marion County to choose to consolidate its fire department into IFD if the township board and trustee each approve a resolution authorizing consolidation.
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