Public mixed on proposed fire department merger

MOORESVILLE — More than 100 local residents filled the Mooresville Government Center’s meeting room last week to ask questions and give their opinions of a proposed fire territory that would merge the Mooresville and Brown Township fire departments.

The four-hour-long meeting on Feb. 20 was a joint effort between the Mooresville Town Council and Brown Township Advisory Board.

As previously reported, the fire territory could increase property taxes in Mooresville and the rest of Brown Township by as much as 32 percent — with all additional tax dollars going to the proposed fire territory and nearly doubling the budgets of each department for a combined total of about $6 million.

Public comments

After a presentation by the town’s financial advisor, township attorney and township fire chief, members of the public had the opportunity to ask questions and offer their opinions on the proposal.

Some of those who offered comments expressed concerns about the potential property tax increase, while others showed support for the merger as a way to keep fire protection in Mooresville and Brown Township properly staffed.

One person who expressed support for the territory was Mooresville resident Crystal Davis.

Davis said experience matters, noting there is a difference between a new firefighter and a 25-year veteran firefighter and that the fire territory could help keep firefighters in the Mooresville community longer.

“I’m shocked, quite frankly, when I look at a chief of fire making $77,000,” Davis said. “I mean, that’s a good salary, but you’re running an entire department for a town. I feel like that number is shockingly low.”

Davis went on to note that her father lives with her and that the property tax increase could add $326 to her annual tax bill with the proposed territory.

“It is worth $326 for (firefighters) to come and help me with my father, easily,” Davis said.

Mooresville resident Neal Allman expressed concerns about the potential tax increase related to the proposed merger.

Allman said the combined property taxes in 2016 for his two lots was $628. In 2023, the property taxes were a combined $1,543. Allman noted he had added a deck to the property between 2016 and 2023.

“So I’m just speaking for myself, you guys have a tough decision to make,” Allman said. “…Walmart wants more money, Target wants more money, the state wants more money (and) Uncle Sam wants more money. My question, I guess, is how much is enough? When are you going to stop? Because you’re killing me.”

Allman said he worries about his neighbors who live on a fixed income as costs continue to rise.

Brown Township resident Jason Whitlow said he is “reluctantly in support of” the fire territory.

Whitlow said he previously ran an EMA service in Tulsa, Okla.

“Somebody brought you, you know what, maybe we just need to be a stepping stone to other (departments),” Whitlow said. “We don’t want to do that, because we have put training, time and money into these people, and we’re just giving that to other places.”

Brown Township resident Bob Branch said he understands costs have increased in recent years, “but it almost sounds like we’re taking too big a bite at one meal.”

“It needs to be, maybe, spread out a little bit,” Branch said.

He added he believes a large increase in property taxes will hurt a lot of local residents.

“I think combining the fire departments is a good idea,” Branch said. “But I think we need to find a little more equitable way for the people to afford it.”

Discussion with county officials

Toward the end of the meeting, county commissioner Don Adams and county administrator Josh Messmer talked about other potential options for fire protection.

Town council president Tom Warthen asked Adams about a fire district, which is how Monroe Township’s fire department operates.

Warthen said he believes one disadvantage to a fire district would be that fire protection would be “controlled by someone 14 miles south of us.”

Messmer, however, responded that a fire district board would be appointed by the county, but that the members would be from Mooresville and Brown Township.

“It’s not like they’re going to name three people from Martinsville to take care of your community,” Messmer said. “It’s going to be the same folks who live here today.”

Warthen, however, responded that a fire district’s budget would be controlled by the county.

Messmer encouraged town and township officials to “think bigger” in terms of the territory and consider looking at other adjacent townships.

“We’ve met with a lot of you, we had somebody come down and talk about a countywide territory, which didn’t even have to be countywide, but if you were to think bigger, maybe this is your first baby step, you could look at expanding to the northern half (of Morgan County),” Messmer said. “We all agree service needs to be improved. You guys are grappling with that, which I applaud you for, but there are other options.”

A third and final public hearing will occur at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, at the Mooresville Government Center, 4 E. Harrison St., Mooresville. 

A final meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on March 20 to vote on the proposal.