Residents and county staff raised concerns Sept. 25 that previously executed interlocal agreements changing which volunteer fire departments respond in parts of the county had expired and that map changes might not have been formalized for 2025.

County staff provided the commission with copies of prior agreements showing that certain response-area changes between Centerville Township, Erie and Galesburg had been formal for 2023 but that the renewal term in those agreements ended Dec. 31, 2024. Commissioners and staff said they did not have evidence of 2025 renewals and cautioned that, in the absence of a current resolution or contract, the legally active map remains the last one adopted with a valid signed agreement.

Why it matters: residents and a few commissioners noted that altered response boundaries can affect Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings and therefore property insurance outcomes. One commissioner said some properties now sit closer to a different fire station, which could materially affect response classifications used in ISO calculations and therefore homeowner premiums.

Discussion and county role: staff said the county itself does not unilaterally change fire-response boundaries; changes require negotiation and signed agreements among townships and volunteer fire departments. Commissioners encouraged the affected townships and the volunteer chiefs to meet and, if needed, produce new interlocal agreements or mutual-aid contracts that address liability and service expectations.

Next steps: no county-level resolution or change to maps was adopted at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to keep copies of historic agreements and to notify the commission if the townships or fire departments submit new agreements for county action. Residents were encouraged to work with their township trustees and fire chiefs to re-establish any mutual-aid or coverage agreements needed to clarify response responsibilities.