Eagle Township asks Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority to return unrestricted funds after audit

Eagle Township trustees on April 17 approved a motion requesting that the Looking Glass Regional Fire Authority (LGRFA) return its unrestricted fund balance to member townships while retaining 25% for itself.

Supervisor Troy Stroud reported that the LGRFA passed its 2024 audit and has extra unrestricted money available. Stroud said LGRFA is requesting formal motions from Eagle and Watertown townships to return the remainder of the unrestricted balance; LGRFA plans to retain 25% and has approved a $6,000 expenditure to install a new auto alert response system in cooperation with Delta Township. Stroud also said the LGRFA will submit grant applications for the current year through the offices of Congressman Tom Barrett and Sen. Elisa Slotkin.

Supervisor Stroud moved, and Clerk Laurie Briggs-Dudley supported, a resolution asking LGRFA to return the unrestricted funds and hold back 25 percent. Roll-call yes votes were recorded for Treasurer Chelsea Hoppes, Trustee Rob Currie, Clerk Briggs-Dudley and Supervisor Stroud; the motion carried. The board did not provide an amount for the unrestricted balance in the minutes.

The motion directs township leadership to formally request the funds but does not itself transfer money or specify how returned funds would be allocated; any disbursement would follow LGRFA procedures and any intergovernmental agreements. The board also noted the LGRFA-approved $6,000 expenditure for an auto alert response system but did not vote on that LGRFA decision at the township meeting.