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Putnam County Commission moves fire board assets to county after voters approve five‑year levy
Summary
The Putnam County Commission voted to suspend operations of the Putnam County Fire Board and transfer its funds and vehicles to the county after voters approved a five‑year fire levy; the levy takes effect July 1 and is set to run through June 30, 2030.
The Putnam County Commission voted to suspend operations of the Putnam County Fire Board and transfer the board’s funds and equipment to the county so they can be operated under a newly approved fire levy.
The action followed the commission’s statement that voters approved a fire levy at the spring primary; the levy takes effect July 1 and will fund emergency services for five years, through June 30, 2030.
Why it matters: Transferring assets and suspending the board centralizes levy‑funded fire operations under the county commission and installs county oversight for equipment and funds that previously were held in the fire board’s name. The change affects how the levy revenue will be managed and used for local fire services during the five‑year term.
Commission leadership described the sequence at the meeting. The commission president said the fire fee previously charged by the county had been suspended because voters passed the levy, and that “the funds and the vehicles that are in the fire board’s name will be transferred into the county commission for operation under that levy.” The president added that the county has hired a fire director, Dave Turley, who will start in June to oversee implementation under the levy.
County staff explained that the ordinance that previously established a fire fee will be suspended while the levy is in effect and that an order transferring assets and suspending the fire board has been prepared for the full commission. The commission voted on a motion to transfer the assets and suspend the fire board; the motion passed by voice vote.
The commission did not adopt detailed rules at the meeting for daily operations under the levy; county staff and the incoming fire director were identified as responsible for operational oversight.
Ending: Commissioners said the transfer was necessary to allow the county to operate fire services under the voter‑approved levy, and they confirmed the hire of a fire director who will begin work in June and supervise the levy’s initial implementation.
