By Doran D. East
Summerlake resident
A few years ago, plans were drawn to build a new fire station in Green Township to help provide better protection. Now if I remember right, we have certain contracts signed by our trustee, or former trustee, with Lapel, Pendleton and Vernon Township (Fortville). These contracts are made to provide service to Green Township and all areas inside for certain fees. The idea was that for the cost of these contracts we could cover a new station to be built. The cost would come from the taxpayers at about $113 a year for a home worth $140,000. Now this was “tabled” due to all the objection from residents, the surrounding communities, and Larry Higgins, who was running for the trustee of Green Township.
Larry was right that we should use land that was provided for free from CP Morgan to build the station. I am not sure why that was not a no-brainer. The objection from the surrounding communities was that it would not cover enough and then they would have to cover the rest at their cost. The residents who opposed it didn’t want their taxes to go up.
Fast forward about a year, to the argument between Ingalls and Green Township over the fee paid for fire protection for the land near the interstate. Since Ingalls was going to annex it, they wanted the money for protection. But still no station. So, on Nov. 30, we saw what happens when we have to wait a long period of time for a fire department to arrive. The wait may have resulted not only to lose one house but multiple homes.
I am sure that those who oppose anyone taking their money will say that it didn’t matter either because no one was hurt. Will we have to wait until that day? Or will it be the day we open our homeowner’s insurance and see that it skyrocketed due to the expensive fire in the area. What was the damage, around $1 million? Don’t think that your insurance company will hesitate on raising the premiums. They will because of obvious lack of protection. Trust me, it will be more than $113 a year, while we sit with inadequate protection.
I give all respect to firefighters who came out trying to keep it from spreading. But fact are facts. Hopefully this can wake people up to the fact we need more protection in Green Township. A station is needed. Unfortunately now that we do not have a trustee, who is going to help with that? Obviously not the surrounding communities. Probably not the County Council. Definitely not residents who oppose it in the first place. The township advisory board? Someone, anyone.
Will we have to wait until someone gets hurt to have a station? If it did cost (according to statements made at the meeting several years ago) way more to protect us than we pay, why do you serve us, Pendleton? It makes no sense, or maybe your objection has to do with the ongoing annexation fight with Ingalls. Whatever the objections are, it is time for better protection. Let’s build a station.
