Jennings Township trustee asks county to help pay firehouse roof; commissioners table request

Mike Kelly, the Jennings Township trustee, told the Jennings County commissioners the Geneva Township volunteer fire department needs a new roof after persistent leaks and that the station responded to roughly 600 calls last year. "The roof is bad because it started leaking," Kelly said, adding that the department pools resources, buys used apparatus when possible and is frugal with township funds.

County commissioners questioned whether the county’s Local Income Tax (LIT) — which has previously funded turnout gear, ambulances and other public-safety needs — should instead be used for turnout gear or other emergency equipment, noting precedent for prior LIT disbursements to fire districts. Commissioners also raised concerns about bid comparability and asked staff to verify whether the county council had already allocated $25,000 toward the roof and whether that allocation followed the usual process.

Officials said there were discrepancies among submitted quotes and uncertainty about how much of the bond or LIT balance remains unspent. Staff said they would confirm ledger details and prior approvals. With those questions outstanding, a commissioner moved to table the request for additional documentation; the motion was seconded and the board voted unanimously to table the matter for follow-up.

What happens next: Commissioners asked staff to obtain written confirmation of any prior council commitments, provide the fire department’s bids for the roof, and report back with a recommended funding approach. The board did not approve a transfer or disbursement at the meeting.