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Allen County approves Purdue Fort Wayne study to evaluate single fire district option
Summary
Commissioners approved a technical assistance agreement with Purdue University Fort Wayne to study consolidation of the county's fire districts; staff said the study will outline staffing, station coverage and budget implications and is expected to take several months at a cost just under $50,000.
The Allen County Board of Commissioners voted March 7 to engage Purdue University Fort Wayne for technical assistance to study consolidation of the county's four fire districts with the goal of creating a single county fire district.
Commissioner Beck described the purpose of the engagement and said the county has "no clear pathway forward written by state statute or provided by a department of local government finance as to how we get that accomplished. So we decided to engage the engineering division of Purdue University Fort Wayne to help us create that pathway forward."
Beck told commissioners the study will examine staffing levels, station locations, proposed budgeting needed to meet response-time objectives and will yield a template and recommended steps for consolidation. The transcript records the study cost as "just under $50,000" and that the work will take several months to complete. Commissioners indicated the item was included in the county's 2025 budget.
Commissioners said the study could serve as a model for other counties because state statute and guidance do not currently provide a clear procedural path for countywide consolidation. The technical assistance agreement was approved by voice vote at the March 7 meeting.
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