The new Delphi Tri-Township Fire Territory Board of Directors, which includes the township trustees of Tippecanoe, Madison and Deer Creek townships and the City of Delphi, organized for the future. Territory members chose officers at a meeting last week. Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser was chosen board president and Neda K. Duff, Deer Creek Township Trustee, was chosen secretary.

It was determined the estimated tax revenue from the four taxing entities would be roughly $151,000 compared to the fire territory proposed budget appropriations of $185,700. Fire chief Denny Randle was tasked with reducing the overall budget. It was noted that some appropriation items, such as buildings and equipment expenses, could be shifted to the cumulative fire fund to reduce the operating budget for the territory. Randle was given $141,500 as a target appropriation amount for the operating budget. He will present the proposed reduced spending plan at the October meeting.

A planning grant to hire a consultant to renovate the fire station to include the area currently occupied by the Delphi Street Department will be written by the Kankakee Iroquois Regional Planning Commission. Requests for proposals from consultant firms are due Sept. 30 and the public hearing for the grant proposal will be Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the city building.

The group will begin to develop policies and procedures at the October meeting. Strasser said he would “pull some things together” for the task. The agreements between the four members established at the time the territory was created will provide the basis of the document.

Randle reported the state set maximum amounts fire departments, or territories, are allowed to charge for fire runs. He said the Delphi Tri- Township Fire Territory could charge up to $250/hour for each truck called to the fire scene and $150/hour for each truck while on the scene, $100/hour for the command vehicle to respond to a fire and $50/hour for every hour the vehicle is on the scene.

Randle said the cost is billed to the insurance company or to the owner of the structure or land of the scene of the fire. Strasser said the cost can be considered a “user fee” which could ultimately reduce the tax rate for fire in the townships.

Randle said in considering the charges, common sense had to be used to ensure only necessary vehicles be used to respond and work a fire. He said the department currently charges a flat rate for severe fires.

Board members took the matter under advisement for further consideration before taking action.

The group will meet the fourth Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. in the council chambers in the city building. The next meeting will be Oct. 28.