To the editor:
All Indiana volunteer fire departments depend on a working relationship with their township trustee and board. The trustee takes the taxpayers’ money and provides a stream of support through contracted money for everyday expenses and access to a cumulative fund for large expenditures.
But what happens if your trustee decides to defund your department? Well, you might go to court to settle your differences. You might fight for two to three years until your money runs out due to 11 extensions filed by the trustee. You might go to mediation, in good faith, with a compromise, only to be told the only offer is termination with a severance package.
Would it surprise you to know that over the course of the lawsuit, the trustee had started paperwork and applied for permits and certifications to start a new township fire department?
The taxpayers were not informed that they needed a whole new department or that they would be without fire protection (except for the commitment of the existing, nonfunded VBVFD) in the interim. There was no survey, forum or meeting of the township people, even though Ben Phillips was quoted as saying “the township now has a voice.”
New trucks and gear would have enticed more volunteers to VBVFD. The money that could have gone into the brand-new building, new bunker gear and more training is instead used as a start-up fund for a totally new department with the trustee and board at its head. This shines light on the motive to replace the existing department for total control of operations.
Now, the trustee would like to take our building. Why? Because she can’t afford to build one of her own, nor can she be considered a valid department without one?
It still is not clear why it was necessary to destroy the existing department through financial means and false rumors. The trustee told me repeatedly she just didn’t want to give Chief John Ward the keys to the new building. This is definitely a personal issue. No county or state agency will assist in conflict between a trustee and township concerns because the trustee has their own jurisdiction (fiefdom).
It is ironic that our trustee worked hard to get VBVFD a new building but then decided to close it down. The grant for the building names the commissioners and VBVFD as recipients. If VBVFD defaults, Brown County is in eminent danger of losing all federal and state grants for up to seven years. Putting another department in the building does not fulfill the grant requirements.
The commissioners have said they might sue the VBVFD to recoup the $400,000. The department does not have that kind of money or this would be a moot issue. Why didn’t they step in to resolve this when it began or anytime thereafter? Will they fund VBVFD until the grant is satisfied?
VBVFD has faithfully served Van Buren Township since the early ’70s. There have been rough times with money and personnel since its beginning. Declining volunteers nationwide have continued to hurt departments everywhere. If a fundraiser is successful, the rewards are a couple of hundred dollars.
Throughout are legal struggle, we were accused of “unclean hands” and of running a fraudulent department. Both accusations were dismissed.
It is sad that a few people in power can drastically change the outcome of a small, independent entity and endanger the homes and emergency response to our township.
VBVFD has kept its doors open because our fellow township citizens have helped with donations and moral support. Thank you!
I am proud to be a part of the VBVFD executive board, knowing I continue the support that Keith Donaldson contributed from its beginning, followed by Al Donaldson in his lifetime.
It will be a truly sad day for Van Buren Township if the doors close.
Please contact your commissioners to voice your concerns.
Jane Donaldson, executive fire board member
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