LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Amid concerns over funding a new fire territory in southern Indiana, Clark County Commissioners voted Wednesday to terminate the board of an existing district.

The dismissal of the three Utica Township Fire Protection District Board members comes a day before the board and the Jeffersonville City Council were expected to vote on an ordinance that would establish the Jeffersonville — Utica Township Fire Protection Territory. 

In a statement to WDRB, Board President Joe Jarles said they were told about the vote, but have yet to hear directly from the commissioners themselves—who appointed the board.

"We believe the meeting was held in violation of Indiana's Open Door Policy and the actions taken were outside the Commissioners' statutory authority and therefore ineffective as being contrary to Indiana law," Jarles' statement continued.

Wednesday's meeting at 3:30 p.m. was originally scheduled for Thursday, but rescheduled to be held Wednesday, according to a meeting agenda from the Clark County Government Portal. On the agenda, a discussion on the financial impact of the proposed Jeffersonville — Utica Township FPD Fire Territory. The minutes from that meeting have not yet been uploaded to the government website.

Board members and Jeffersonville City Council members were scheduled to meet Thursday to vote to either adopt, reject, or table the ordinance, resolution and interlocal agreement establishing the new fire territory. It's unclear at this time whether that meeting will still be held.

The creation of a new fire protection district would fill gaps in coverage left behind in the wake of the fraud case against former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel. 

Noel used to lead New Chapel EMS and the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Department. The contract between New Chapel and Clark County ending last year and was replaced by Muncie-based Heartland Ambulance Service. But, even with Heartland moving into the area, there are still gaps in coverage that needs to be filled. 

The proposed new fire protection district would spread the cost of fire services across a larger tax base and set a new tax rate for fire services within Clark County.

Leaders of other cities have raised concerns about funding a new district, and said it would devastate their budgets.

The City of Jeffersonville stepped forward, offering to expand its fire department to cover Utica after the departure of Noel and the New Chapel Fire Department. 

The task of hiring firefighters, purchasing equipment, and preparing for operations would cost more than $30 million. And with Indiana’s property tax caps limiting revenue - a new bill in the state legislature - the funds had to come from existing budgets, the same budgets that funded schools, towns, and townships.

Also being taken into consideration, New Chapel Fire and Noel had been paid only a fraction of what was actually needed to maintain fire protection. 

While New Chapel Fire did leave behind a building that would be refurbished for the new fire district to use, it's clear that the burden has shifted squarely onto the taxpayers of Clark County.

Still, Jeffersonville officials insisted during a Feb. 20 meeting that the expansion of its fire department was necessary for public safety. 

This story may be updated.

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