Indiana Code allows for two or more townships with common borders to form fire protection territories. It also allows for a community to form a fire district. The difference is that one is supposed to be controlled by those directly involved in service provision - however one of the entities must be declared the "provider unit" and by virtue of that title is the new group's power holder. The other, the district, would be controlled at the county level and managed at the local level.

The spirit of the law granting permission for fire protection territories was set so services could be provided more efficiently with the consolidation. Forming a fire protection territory could be a very good thing for the community. It could provide the same service for less - always a desirable attribute.

But at what cost is the Delphi Fire Protection Territory coming to the residents of Deer Creek, Tippecanoe and Madison townships and the City of Delphi? And how long should it take to establish this new taxing entity?

Here is the recent history about the formation of this additional layer of government. The first mention publicly of a fire protection territory was made at the Feb. 2 Delphi City Council meeting. That night Mayor Randy Strasser talked about forming one because it was unclear what the fate of township government would be. The apparent consensus with township leaders was they were not willing to allow their firefighting money and the control of their firefighting equipment turned over to the Carroll County Council. It was said at the meeting the county council would have to "reinvent the wheel" in order to manage the service. No one was willing to ask them to do that, so they decided to take matters into their own hands.

Strasser announced at the council meeting a "public education" meeting was scheduled for three days later, Feb. 5, at the city building.

At the "public education" meeting, Strasser had an ordinance prepared, a several-page agreement between the city and the townships prepared, a legal advertisement for a public meeting prepared, a special council meeting to approve the ordinance on first reading scheduled, and a law firm from Indianapolis on retainer - all for the fire protection territory. Strasser said after the meeting the townships and the city all pooled their money to pay for the law firm's representation.

When did all of this happen? Were meetings of government leaders held "behind closed doors?"

All of the entities involved, i.e. township advisory boards and the city council, are obligated by state statute (state law) to notify the Comet when they schedule meetings. No notice was received by the Comet from any of the principals involved prior to the Feb. 2 city council meeting.

It gets even more curious…

At the "public education" meeting, although most of the city council members were present, not one of them asked a question. Allegedly this was the first time they received information about forming a new taxing unit, yet they had not one question.

How could that be? Could they have met "behind closed doors" with the mayor about this and had not only gotten answers but also formed an opinion about how they would vote?

And, at the "public education" meeting, the Tippecanoe Township Advisory Board members convened a meeting with the trustee in the hallway to decide to participate. When they returned to the meeting, all three townships declared their participation.

It was a good thing the forms, ordinance, resolutions and agreements had already been prepared. What foresight. What efficiency. It is amazing what some elected officials can get accomplished if they don't let a little thing like the law get in their way.

Our state senators obviously take seriously violations of the state's access laws. On Tuesday with no floor debate they unanimously passed S.B. 232 with a 49-0 vote. The bill included the provision that would allow a judge to levy a civil fine (up to $100 for first occurrence, up to $500 for subsequent violations) for deliberate violations of the state's Open Door Law and Access to Public Records Act.

A fire protection territory may very well be a grand idea given the right circumstances and the chance for the public to understand all aspects of how their tax dollars will be spent and by whom. But what we question are their methods in getting the job done.