Woodburn council adopts ordinance to join expanded Allen County fire protection territory

The Woodburn council on March 9 adopted Ordinance No. 26-1441, authorizing the city to become a participating unit in a 2026 interlocal agreement that expands the Woodburn–New Haven Fire and EMS protection territory to include Northeast, Northwest, West Central and Southwest Allen County Fire Protection Districts and related townships.

The measure, read in full at the special meeting and approved by a vote of those present to waive a second reading and adopt, authorizes the mayor to execute the interlocal agreement and directs the parties to arrange transfers or leases of assets and property as needed to implement a unified district. The attorney leading the presentation said the agreement establishes a target timeline for transfer arrangements and that “nobody's required to accomplish that until 12/31/2026,” after which the unified district would assume full service responsibilities beginning 01/01/2027.

The ordinance text cites Indiana Code 36-8-11-12 and related statutes and memorializes three core objectives: document the unification plan, align local withdrawal deadlines to state statute, and provide a roadmap for transfer or lease of assets and equipment to the unified district. The ordinance lists the participating units and taxing districts to be included in the expanded territory and authorizes the mayor to sign any documents necessary to complete the transaction.

At the meeting, chiefs and local officials said the countywide consolidation aims to address rising run volumes and shrinking volunteer rosters. “Run volume's going up, volunteers are going down, and people still expect big red truck to show up when they call 911,” said Chief Jeff Birning of the Northeast Allen County Fire Protection District, urging the process as a way to secure more consistent countywide staffing and response capability.

Council members and residents pressed for detail on how titled assets and buildings would be handled. The attorney said transfers could occur by deed or by lease and that deeds commonly include reverter language so that property or equipment used exclusively for fire protection would revert pro rata to contributing units if it later ceased to be used for that purpose. He added that some units have chosen to put significant maintenance work—such as replacing a roof—on the contributing unit's timetable before transfer.

Tax treatment and budget mechanics drew sustained questions. The attorney explained the unified district will be a municipal corporation that certifies a budget to the county auditor and to the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), which then informs the levy; how much property owners ultimately pay will depend on the certified budget and net assessed values. One resident warned that a presenting chief had told him “the only way that this new entity can survive is to raise taxes,” and councilors and chiefs acknowledged that higher staffing levels and equipment replacement funds would likely increase levy needs over time.

Several attendees expressed concern that a nine‑member governing board—six members appointed by the county commissioners and three by the county council, selected under a quadrant‑based statutory framework—could dilute local control for rural areas. The attorney said the statute requires quadrant‑based appointments and noted that the unified board could establish subcommittees to preserve local input.

After the reading, a council member moved to waive the second reading and adopt the ordinance; the motion carried with those present raising hands in favor. The council arranged for execution and notarization of the ordinance and associated interlocal documents before adjourning. The ordinance references required public hearings held on 02/23/2026, 03/02/2026 and 03/09/2026 as part of its adoption record.

The next steps described at the meeting include circulation of a draft unified‑district ordinance for review (attorneys indicated a draft could be ready the second week of April) and additional public hearings or meetings by participating units to finalize details on staffing, station locations, asset transfers and the budget that will determine levy levels.