MILFORD — Doug Ruch, a firefighter with the Milford Volunteer Fire Department, as well as Milford Town Council and Redevelopment Commission member, presented the commission with the idea of forming a “fact finding group” to “look at the pros and cons of establishing a fire territory for taxation purposes” at the redevelopment commission’s first meeting of the year Monday, Jan. 11, at Milford Town Hall.

The formation of a fire district, to include Milford, Van Buren Township and part of Jefferson Township would mean a single tax rate for all residents currently served by the Milford Fire Department and help to eliminate “argument about fire protection,” according to Ruch.

Joellen Free, commission secretary/treasurer and Milford Town Council clerk/treasurer, agreed the fire department would therefore be “self-funded through taxation.” This would benefit the town of Milford which helps support the department out of a general fund hit by budget cuts in recent years. Furthermore, Ruch cited the move would “make the community more of a stronghold if there was consolidation.”

However, Ruch did point out the Milford Fire Department is composed of part-time personnel, as opposed to other fire districts, Turkey Creek for example, which have full time personnel.

Ruch stressed the plan was merely an “idea” that deserved consideration. The commission agreed and appointed member Charlotte Siegfried to a proposed “steering committee,” also composed of representatives from the Milford Town Council and Van Buren and Jefferson Township boards.

The redevelopment commission also voted to “look into and support if necessary” the purchase of a generator for the Milford Community Building which served as a shelter for drivers stranded by a blizzard last winter.

The recent ice storm and resulting power outages also saw nearly 4,000 area customers of Northern Indiana Public Service Company without electricity, including 30 residents of Leisure Living Apartments, three of which were moved to the Milford Fire Department overnight, according to Free. Free added the Red Cross has the community building “on basis as a shelter,” and, had it not been for its intervention, the power outages could have been considerably longer.

Commission President Dan Brown cited the need to establish a clear connection between the generator, which would cost approximately $40,000, and the redevelopment district. Ruch pointed out the building could serve as a work station for local businesses in the event of future outages.

The commission also saw to the reelection of its officers. Brown and Chuck Bird will retain their positions as president and vice-president respectively.

Treasurer Free reported the commission begins 2016 with $472, 438.54.

The redevelopment commission’s next meeting will be 10 a.m. April 11 in Milford Town Hall, 121 S. Main St.