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Board presses fire companies for reporting; residents raise oil-and-gas concerns
Summary
Supervisors said fire companies are not providing required activity and financial reports tied to the fire tax referendum; the Board directed Township Manager Daniel Mator to convene meetings and place the issue on the next agenda. During public comment, residents raised issues about oil-and-gas infrastructure definitions and the Leto pad entrance and signage.
Township Manager Daniel Mator and Chairperson Beverly Jordan told the West Deer Township Board on Dec. 18 that fire companies have not consistently submitted the financial and activity reports required under the Board’s resolution implementing last year’s fire‑tax referendum.
Mator described the reporting requirement and said the reports are necessary for the Board to track trends and project fire-protection financial needs. Mrs. Jordan said three meetings had already been held with the fire companies and township officials to set expectations, but the Board was not receiving reports as agreed. Supervisor Jeff Fleming asked to be briefed on the history and Mr. Mator agreed to arrange a meeting among supervisors and the fire companies before the next regular meeting; the item will be placed on the next agenda for action.
During the public‑comment period, residents raised unrelated but local concerns. Joe Wisniewski thanked the Board for a recent speed-limit change on Deer Creek Road. Jack Rearick said an emergency‑contacts sign listed Indiana and Hampton Township contacts for a Leto gas well instead of West Deer contacts and spoke about oil‑and‑gas setbacks. Mary Kalivoda and Victoria Austin spoke about how the township defines oil‑and‑gas infrastructure; Austin also raised concerns about the entrance to the Leto pad and tire collection there. Rich Hollibaugh asked questions about fire-tax reporting requirements.
What the Board did: directors directed Manager Mator to set up a meeting with supervisors and the fire companies to review and enforce the reporting requirements and asked staff to put the discussion back on the next agenda. No enforcement action or funding changes were taken at the meeting.
Why it matters: the accuracy and timeliness of fire-company financial and activity reports affect how the township monitors fire-protection needs and allocates fire-tax revenue; residents’ comments highlight ongoing local concerns about oil-and-gas infrastructure and emergency-contact signage that the Board may need to address administratively.
