Fire Chief: York Township's exit removes about 28% of Milan Area Fire Department budget; 13 months to reorganize

Fire Chief Carpus told the Milan City Council on May 5 that York Township is separating from the Milan Area Fire Department (MAFD), removing roughly 28% of the department's budget and giving the department about 13 months to reorganize.

The announcement came during the council's "items for discussion" portion of the meeting. Chief Carpus described the separation as a significant budgetary change for the department and said the department is pleased to have a 13-month window to plan and reconfigure services and staffing to account for the loss of revenue.

Council did not vote on a formal action tied to the separation at this meeting. The discussion was informational: council members and staff were briefed on the change and on the expected timeline for reorganization. The meeting record does not include a detailed reorganization plan, funding offsets or specific operational changes; those items remain to be developed by MAFD leadership and city staff.

Mayor Ed Kolar and other council members acknowledged the announcement and thanked department staff and community volunteers for their work, but no policy decision or budget amendment was recorded at the meeting. The council set no immediate follow-up vote; the next regular meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2026.

Next steps described in the minutes indicate MAFD leadership and city staff have about 13 months to prepare a reorganization plan and bring any recommended actions, budget changes or interlocal agreements back to the council for formal consideration.