I Showed Up. Here's What I Learned.

Last night I attended a public information meeting hosted by the Allen County Fire District at the Cedarville Park Pavilion. Not because I was required to. Because the decisions being made right now about fire and EMS coverage will directly affect every resident of Springfield Township, and I wanted to understand them firsthand.

Here's what I took away.

The new district is building structure. A county-wide fire academy is in the works, with a hybrid training program that can be customized around existing certifications. The goal is at least two paramedics at every station, and they're hiring eight full-time paramedics. Not EMTs. Fully trained paramedics.

Leadership will include five battalion chiefs in the field daily, supported by three executives. They're looking at 24-on, 48-off scheduling and acknowledging the challenges that come with it. Competitive wages are a real concern. Right now Allen County ranks 45th in the state for firefighter pay. Fort Wayne sits at 20th. Closing that gap matters if we want to attract and keep good people.

Volunteers remain welcome and valued, and there are plans to both retain current volunteers and recruit new ones.

On the equipment and facilities side, apparatus currently owned by individual districts or territories will transfer to the new district, allowing resources to be redistributed where they're needed most. Leases and purchases of station real estate are already in process.

Funding options like COIT were discussed, though those are governed by state law. The new chief made clear that safety, for personnel and for citizens, is the priority.

This is the kind of meeting your township trustee should be attending. These decisions affect your tax dollars, your response times, and your family's safety. I believe showing up is the minimum. Understanding the details is the job.

I'll keep showing up. I'll keep sharing what I learn.

And if any of this matters to you, and it should, I'd encourage you to do the same. Attend the meetings. Ask the questions. Make your voice heard. These are public meetings about public services funded by your money. You have every right to be in the room, and the people making these decisions need to hear from the people they serve.