The Ellettsville Town Council voted to approve a memorandum of understanding among Richland Township, the Town of Ellettsville and Rogers Group to pursue construction of a new fire station. The motion, which struck section 8 of the draft MOU, passed on a roll call with Pam Samples, William Ellis, Scott Oldham and Dan Swafford recorded as voting yes.

The MOU describes a proposed site on a four-acre parcel owned by North American Minerals at the corner of West Vernal Park Pike and North Hart Street Road. Speaker 7 explained that the Richland Township trustee and the trustee's attorney had concerns that language in section 8 — which would have had Rogers Group sublease to both the township and the town — could imperil approval from the bond company and could affect the town's constitutional debt limit.

"I suggest... take that out, pass it as amended because as soon as it's passed and approved by the township board, Mister Cook will go ahead and start conferring with bond counsel," Speaker 7 said, noting bond counsel (Dennis Otten of Barnes & Thornburg) had already begun preliminary discussions. Speaker 7 and Speaker 1 told the council the township, not the town, would incur the debt, although they acknowledged that future legislative changes about township governments could affect how assets and debts are assigned.

Speaker 3 moved to approve the MOU with section 8 struck; the motion was seconded and approved. Council members were told that once the township board approves the amended MOU, the trustee and bond counsel would pursue detailed financing discussions.

The council recorded that final financing details would be worked out with bond counsel and the township; the MOU as approved is an agreement to agree so those details can be resolved without blocking immediate steps toward site and bond discussions.

Next steps outlined in the meeting: the township board will consider the amended MOU and bond counsel will continue work on financing options.