The idea of a possible protection district has been brought up by local residents which led to an informational meeting being hosted by the City of Vandalia and Vandalia City Council on Friday. James Sinclair of Stobbs, Sinclair and Associates of Alton was on hand to talk about the legal mechanism and steps to putting the option of a fire protection district on the ballot and to forming a district. With forming a district, Sinclair explained that setting boundaries for a fire protection district is made easier due to coverage maps by 9-1-1.
Once a fire protection district is formed, the boundaries would dictate who appoints the members of the district’s governing board. If a protection district is in more than one township, the county board would serve as the appointing authority. If a protection district contains just one township, the township board is the appointing authority and likewise if the protection district is wholly in one municipality, that city’s council or village’s board would be the appointing authority. Sinclair also explained that when it comes to the financial aspect, fire protection district funding comes from property taxes.
Following Sinclair’s explanation of the process and forming a fire protection district, the floor was opened up for questions and discussion.