Harrison County Council Proposes Bond for Fire Department Expansion

The Harrison County Council is evaluating a proposal from the Harrison Township Fire Department to issue bonds for enhancing the south station on Fairview Church Road, near Corydon. This proposed expansion aims to align fire services in the area with other parts of the township, potentially impacting homeowners' insurance costs and resulting in a rise in property taxes.

The fire department plans to use the bonds to establish essential living and training facilities, ensuring a 24-hour on-site firefighter presence. Currently, firefighters are available for about 12 hours a day at Fairview Church Road. Fire Chief Jon Saulman emphasized the urgent need for new sleeping quarters, which could reduce emergency response times by approximately seven to eight minutes.

Despite consistent tax rates, response times across the township vary from four to 12 minutes, raising concerns about equitable service delivery for taxpayers. Andrew Lanam from Stifel Institutional, advising on the bond process, estimates a principal requirement of $885,000 for the project, with potential reductions. The projected impact on property owners is an increase of around 1.01 to 1.08 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The Insurance Services Office's rating evaluations directly influence homeowners' insurance premiums, potentially resulting in significant savings depending on the insurance carrier. The approval of the bond measure would lead to further meetings and public hearings to meet regulatory compliance requirements.

Council deliberations on the bond issue were postponed for further community consultation, with a decision expected at the April 13 council meeting. Concurrently, the council approved various infrastructure disbursements and riverboat revenue distributions to bolster localities, reflecting a proactive stance on local development and risk management.