The Town of St. John council on Dec. 29 approved the renewal of the St. John Fire contract with St. John Township for 2026 and separately approved a community services agreement to support a "Blue Envelope" autism-safety program.

Trustee Kehuduru, appearing before the council, described the fire contract as a $32,500 renewal to be paid in two installments and explained that a recent property tax-cap impact reduced the township's expected levy revenue. "For 2026, the amount is $34,824 the property tax cap impact," the trustee said, adding that the reduction was attributed to Senate Bill 1 and that the township had used reserves to soften the effect on contracts and services.

The council then considered a Community Services Agreement to allow township funding of a Blue Envelope program, a regional initiative designed to help drivers on the autism spectrum convey relevant information to officers. Trustee Kehuduru described distribution and financing: envelopes and window stickers would be paid for from the township's community service line item or donations; distribution points will include all three police departments in the township and the trustee's office.

Chief Flores described how the Blue Envelope would be used and the training officers will receive, saying the program "provides safety for the officer as well as for the driver." He added that the program would include an emergency contact card inside the envelope and that agencies participating in the pilot would tailor pamphlet information to local procedures.

Council members asked about eligibility and documentation; Chief Flores said recipients would provide documentation from a doctor indicating a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. The council approved the community services agreement and the fire contract with unanimous votes.

The trustee said the township already passed the measure in at least one other town and that the region is expanding the pilot. Staff will finalize program materials with local printers and distribute them through police departments and the trustee's office.

The council's approval authorizes the town to participate in the township-funded program and formalizes the 2026 fire service arrangement; no additional funding commitments beyond the township line item were taken by the town at the meeting.