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Attorney outlines unification plan: timeline, governance limits and transfer safeguards
Summary
The city's attorney told council members the interlocal agreement is designed to memorialize a unification plan that aligns withdrawal windows with state statute, sets a board composition based on four quadrants, and stages asset transfers with reverter provisions; full transition targeted for Jan. 1, 2027.
At the special meeting, the city's attorney (Chris) described the interlocal agreement as a tool to memorialize the community's path toward a unified fire and EMS district and to align local procedures with Indiana law.
Chris said the agreement pursues three primary objectives: (1) create a single working document outlining the unification process; (2) ensure local deadlines for withdrawal or adoption match the state statute so decisions are timely and informed; and (3) set a plan for transferring assets used for fire protection and EMS services to the unified district. “And so the resolution before you tonight is to allow the admittance of those districts into the territory, and, adopt the interlocal agreement,” he said.
He emphasized the timeline built into the documents: while the interlocal agreement lays out requirements and milestones, those requirements are not mandatory before December 31, 2026, and the unified district would be responsible for service delivery starting January 1, 2027. The agreement also anticipates subcommittees and board structures to preserve local input while creating a countywide operating model.
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