LOWELL | The public is invited to join Fire Chief Ryan Kennedy and area officials on two occasions to discuss possibly establishing a fire territory.
The meetings are at 7 p.m. Thursday and noon Sunday at the Lake Dalecarlia Fire Station.
Councilman Craig Earley, D-1st, who is representing the Lowell Town Council in talks, said fire territory proponents want to gauge public opinion before seeking state approval.
Last year's request to the state went up in smoke because the interlocal agreement included not only the towns of Lowell and Schneider and West Creek and Cedar Creek Townships, but the nonprofit fire departments and ambulance service, something not permitted.
Shelby chose to not be included last year as did Eagle Creek Township.
This year, Cedar Creek Township Trustee Alice Dahl opposes the measure.
"I told them (the Cedar Creek Township Advisory Board) I'm not going for it," Dahl said. She said, "A lot of people tell me they're not for another taxing unit. ... The way our economy is now, another tax is not the answer."
Creating a fire territory would establish another tax-based entity to be included on property tax bills for those in Lowell, Schneider and rural areas included in the territory.
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