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GoogleThe Richland-Taylor Township Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. remains a viable firefighting unit. But several former and current members of the R-T department have split into a separate volunteer department at the prompting of the Richland Township Trustee's office.
The new fire protection agency is called the Richland Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.
By statute in Indiana, the township trustee is charged with providing fire protection to the citizens in the township in which he or she was elected.
The new department took a giant step on Wednesday during a mid-day meeting when the final action to dissolve the 1977 incorporation of the two departments was approved.
Richland Township Trustee Virgil Davis told the Greene County Daily World on Wednesday night that the action was approved by officials from the Indiana Secretary of State's office and the Indiana Fire Marshall.
"We got it approved by everyone that it needs to be approved with," Davis stressed.
Davis said he didn't think the founders intended the joint department to remain that way.
"This fire department (R-T) was started in the 1970s by Mr. Wayne Moore (Richland Township Trustee) and Mr. Joe Stone (Taylor Township Trustee). At that time, I think they had to have it take way to support one another and get this thing going. I don't think they never intended for it remain that way for always," Moore said in a telephone interview.
Davis acknowledged that he was the one who originally entertained the idea of the split because he felt like it was more efficient and economical.
Davis said the incorporation that originated in the 1970s was formally dissolved at 11:59 a.m. Wednesday.
Terry Jackson, a former member of the Richland-Taylor Fire Department was named chief of the new department. The department has 13 other members, according to Davis.
So far, the split has not been a smooth one and leaves some questions unanswered, especially on the part of Taylor Township Trustee Lori Brown, who told the Greene County Daily World late Wednesday afternoon that she has not been included in the talks that resulted in the apparent spilt.
The joint township department has used two fire stations -- one on Furnace Road in Bloomfield and another in the unincorporated town of Scotland.
Both stations will maintain three fire fighting apparatus.
R-T firefighters were given a 4 p.m. deadline on Wednesday to remove their equipment from the Bloomfield-based station, Brown said.
Brown said she didn't learn about the plan for the immediate split or the deadline until 1 p.m. on Wednesday. She was not invited to that meeting.
Their own governing board made up of volunteer firefighters is still operating R-T Department. Kenneth Mendenhall of Bloomfield serves as board president. Randy Baker of rural Newberry is the fire chief.
Trustee Brown said the two township fire department has jointly operated for three decades with her office taking care of the assets and financial affairs of the Taylor Township part of the department and the Richland Township Trustee handled the fiscal affairs of his township role in the fire department.
Brown noted, "This really doesn't have anything to do with me. I take care of the equipment down here at Scotland. What they've done doesn't affect me. I still have a contract with the Richland-Taylor Volunteer firemen. I still have a contract with them. They will be servicing my township with my equipment. What's going on with Richland Township, I truly and honestly don't know. I wasn't at the meeting."
She added, "I can tell you Taylor (Township) is secure. We have men and we have equipment and we have a contract with Richland-Taylor Volunteer Fire Department to service our township. That was true yesterday and it is true today."
R-T Fire Chief Baker echoed Brown's sentiments.
"Taylor Township is covered. We're still Richland-Taylor Fire Department, Inc. We are still the entity," Baker said.
Davis, in a prepared news release issued Wednesday night, noted, "Today's move -- which became effective at 11:59 a.m. -- cuts that coverage area nearly in half, giving the citizens of Richland Township an even better response by firefighters and medical personnel than ever before."
He continued, "I have no ill feelings for Richland-Taylor Volunteer Fire Department," said Davis. "Those folks did an admirable job for more than 30 years in protecting this township."
Davis said the citizens of his township would benefit from this change.
"I feel by contracting with a fire department that covers only one township, we can better focus our efforts and our citizens should benefit in the long run."
He added, "One thing that I insisted on was that both departments have enough equipment to effectively fight fires and perform rescues and they do...they (the citizens of Richland Township) are not going to notice any difference. We hope to make it better in the future."
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please
Something doesn't smell right here. Why would the Taylor Township trustee not be informed? If it was intentional, it smells of improper behavior by the Richland Township folks. If it was accidental, it was incompetence on the part of the Richland folks.
Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck Richland Township citizens! You'll need it! If a little digging is done, it wasn't the Trustee of Richland Township pushing for this. What goes around does come around! I hope Richland Township realizes people that will be placed in those positions aren't in it for the right reasons! Ask around!
Oh JW you are so right, it's being come down the pipe for a while! Nothing but no good!
what is this the old buddy thing going on HERE ??? why not tell the other trustee before you do something like that ?? what are you hiding ?
why not tell taylor trustee before you did this ? so she could get thing in line and why so short of time to get out ???? what is going on ??
something smells like fish
now will you taxes go upppppp
is bloonfield going in with richland ????
how much is this going to be ? is this going to make things better ??? can anyone be on your dept. or just the old buddy buddy ones .name your firefighters not just your chef .
I have no doubt that the Talyor Township trustee and her fellow Firefighters will step up to the plate and proceed with success and professionalism. Now seems like the time to call the Taylor Twn. Fire Department and support them. I'm sure they are looking for volunteers.
All i can say is if Mr. Davis is involved it is not a good thing for the people of the township. It might be good for the township but not the people well not all of them just his buddy's!
Hmm, Someone tell me, when our Richland neighbors were in need- it was the Taylor township vounteers that were there first ? (we are on the eastern side of the township)
I do not think this split will benefit the citizens at all. Well maybe just the citizens that make the rules up as they go....
I gathered this from the article above...
"Davis said the citizens of his township would benefit from this change."
And then...
"they (the citizens of Richland Township) are not going to notice any difference."
Sounds like a politician!
Better Response how less equipment and people from the same station that really make sense
Better Response how less equipment and people from the same station that really make sense
The founders may not of intended it to remain this way but I bet they would be disgraced by the dirty back door politics of Davis and the new Chief Of Richland Fire and whatever else they call it
In the article, "So far, the split has not been a smooth one...", but R-T? Get your stuff out of Bloomfield before 4pm Wednesday.
There is going to be a lot of animosity over this. Hopefully the citizens who have been served so well by Richland-Taylor VFD all of these years will not see this infighting when they are in need of service.
You can bet one of these departments will immediately say they are in need of new equipment to "better serve" their township.
I wondered when someone would realize that Richland could not subsidize Taylor forever. With all the building going on at West Gate Park they need to look forward to their future as does Richland. Things are changing folks and we need to change as the times require. In closing, I find it hard to believe that Mr. Davis is playing a part of the "good ole boy network" as some of you have implied. Obviously you have never taken the time to meet or talk with Mr. Davis or you would know that is a lot of BS.
I need to add that I am sure that if Taylor needs help at a fire they only need to contact Richland for help.
My my sounds like the B.S. is getting deep! I was on the fire department for 3 years, and enjoyed the time there. but the B.S. is what runs the people that truely want to help off! i sure hope everything get fixed!!!! At least theres BFD!
" Volunteering is the practice of people working on behalf of others without being motivated by financial or material gain. Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life." Wikipedia
I'm worried that a person would say "I wondered when someone would realize that Richland could not subsidize Taylor forever." Wow you think with the options TFD will have with the expansion as far as growth and developoment, RFD would see that as an asset (Grants/Economic growth/ Taxes)from West Gate Park.... As for the "good ole boy network" if that's not involved it would be a MIRACLE! I think the people involved need to look at the definition of Volunteer again and look to see what they are in this for! For the volunteers that serve and don't stir B.S. Thank you!!!
less people? less equipment? less money from when there was 2 townships in one dept.?Oh and a new fire chief thats not the best people person. So i wonder how this is better for richland township? I hope the new chief does better this time around then the last 4 dept. he has been on but i dont see it. All this has done is hurt both townships but richland township needs to think about a change next election.
That's why we have a trustee for each township. Where was the communication on Richlands part? If they wanted to be on their own, I'm sure that Taylor would have let you.
Nice of them to order Taylor to get their equipment out of the Bloomfield station by 4:00. While Taylor wasn't aware of all this going down. Richland goes to Scotland Firehouse and helps themselves to the equipment. During the day when nobody was around. I SMELL a big rat. Why so sneaky and dirty about it? If it was such a wonderful thing to do for the township!
Maybe they weren't as ready as they thought?
I personal knew Mr.Joe Stone and this is not how he would have wanted these departments to go about with the split. They worked to hard to get protection in each township.
Remember these men and women are volunteers and not only that, a lot of them are generation firefighters. That says a lot!
It really is sad that some people cannot look beyond their own selfishness and see that the change is for the better. Bet richland doesn't make money their first concern when someone has a tragic incindent. The insurance money isn't what it is about......
No but the people who have directly dealt with the new Chief know what they are talking about! Let's see how long before it blows up in their faces and remember to read between the lines. Mr. Davis did not, I repeat did not come up with this plan on his own! Only certain former newspaper owners and newly elected Fire Chief's can come up with a plan such as this and not for the right reasons!
Yet one more reason to do away with township government.
anytime terry jackson is involved it is a mistake, just ask owensburg fire dept.most people around here where glad when he quit the dept here.
If they had time to make a new sign, you think they would have had time to call the Taylor Trustee!!! And no matter the goverment organization, it will always have rats!
Do you know what the big joke is? The "new" sign at the Richland Station is the sign that the Richland-Taylor firefighters bought. The new department just modified it with some new lettering!
Everybody needs to remember that no matter what happened in the past few days that the people of richland and taylor townnships are still protected. Both departments have well trained and skilled fire fighters. Randy and Terry are professional people and would not let the people suffer from this. This all will settle down after a while. I will just make the trustees have to step up and take responsibility for what they have done and need to do in the future. This is not all one sided and people involved were not in the dark as much as they would like others to believe.
Ummm, let's see - the people left on Richland are mainly if not all people who were kicked off this and other fire departments who banded together to take control because they were p.o.ed.
It's really sad when they (Richland) won't even let a volunteer firefighter who has been serving this community for 30+ years, among others, including the Ladies Auxiliary members in the door to gather belongings, but instead just threw them in a truck and sent them on down the road.
This whole thing stinks to the high heavens and Richland has lost all of the best firefighters they have. Some of the people posting above that this is a good thing and because of progress need to do their research and see who the firefighters are from Richland that have now been banned from serving our township.
At least Taylor will have their service if they choose to stay on.
The split could be good for alot of things but not for richland township.Taylor township will be fine but unless richland township trustees does a change in his leadership at his New DEPT. he wont never have much of a dept. Mr jackson is good a firefighter but as a chief not at all.He likes to turn alot of a people away or make stuff up on them that are not on his side and do what HE wants. It was just not owensburg fire Dept.. Lets see He has been on alot of dept. and if you would go to any and ask the out come has never been good.
As for all that got this split started need to step back at think why the got on a fire dept. in the 1st place. Because i think you forgot what this is all about Its to help people in need not to try and be the big dog. I was a firefighter for 15 yrs.and work with alot that is in the middle of this. So Mr davis I say to you a have alot of snakes in the grass on your dept. so dont turn your back to them.I know and if you need more info. call jackson township trustee he will tell you about one. for the rest all i have to say is you have been around so you should have knew how they worked.
I've read the article and comments here, but can anyone tell me why the dual-township department had to split into two separate fire departments?
They didn't have to. A few fireman or ex fireman was not getting there way so they went a fed alot of B.S. to the richaland township trustee. This is what you get when people forget why they joined a fire dept.
this is really sad to think that some people can't accept change without blaming some one else. Richland needed to be split off of Taylor along time ago.
bloomfield51 why did Richland need to split from Taylor?????
bloomfield51 have you ever been on the fire dept.?
The R/T chief's ego I'm sure had a lot to do with the split... Not to mention the Richland Trustee was purchasing all the fuel for the trucks for both depts. Why should that happen. Taylor TWP let Richland pay the bills and they just sit back and still collect the money coming in.
money issues and egos
15 years on dept
I think Citizen474 said it all.....
Do you do the books and have you got proof of all this i bet not. Your going on what you here from your new richland fire chief and maybe an ex paper man. So dont tell me loir brown was not paying here part or she wwas not be ask to but all had to be done was a bill haded to her.
Citizen474. I think you was going to say ex asst. chief. What money coming in? WHEN DID A FIRE DEPT become a money maker? Do you have any clue what your talking about?
Taylor trustee would no doubt in my mind pay her HALF of the bills. I think that you are getting false statements!!!! Maybe you should check the FACTS before YOU post something!!!
richlandtaxpayer - You should be worried. Why should they stay unified? They are from 2 separate taxing districts with different tax rates and what does being a volunteer have to do with the issue?
lineman - I'm not sure anyone said they were a money maker but a part of my County Tax includes the fire protection for my Township. Do you have a clue?
greenetucky- Let's see, it is a VOLUNTEER Fire Dept. and some of the B.S was started by VOLUNTEERS!!! We are lucky people volunteer time for a such noble cause. It takes time from daily life and the familys. So when you have Rats in the mix it get on my last raw nerve! Yes I am worried it should have been left alone! Why mess with something when it has been fine for X amount of years.... If they had an issue with the bills it should have been talked over with the Richland and Taylor Trustee. What I am saying: This matter should have been better taken care of.
Maybe tax paying citizens should be included in the next meeting with the "new" "Richland Fire VOLUNTEER Dept." As always Thank you to the volunteers as lineman said have not forgot why they joined the Dept. :)
this so called "new" fire dept has a website that i think everyone needs to read every last word on it
www.richlandfire.org
Everyone needs to grow up amd quit speaking about issues when they are only getting second and third hand information. For starters, how do the taxpayers in Richland Township like paying for Taylor Township's fire department bills for years? That's a fact. You can see the books. They are public record. Second, people need to quit arguing about what was said or done, and what those in power have as their motivation. As far as I know, there were only a few people in the room when the Richland Trustee told Taylor they were out. So, only a few people know exactly what went on. And, last I knew, no one in Greene County was a mindreader, so how could you 'know' what the motivation behind the move was? People like changeitup, thingsneverchange, lineman, gracielyn and the like are obviously closely associated with the Taylor Township side of the department. All any of you are doing is continuing the discontent. It's over, people. Now, get on with life.
See now your way off. Im not close to tayor township. I have bee a firefighter for 15 years and i have look at the books. So know are you still a firefighter and was you there?
On a related matter: I have never understood why the Town of Bloomfield and Richland (or Richland/Taylor) Township(s) ever should have had separate Departments.
Seems like a better use of tax money would be One Department.
Because to many people want to be the top dog and for get why they joined a fire dept.
Great grammar and sentence structure, Lineman. Nothing like arguing with someone who apparently didn't graduate second grade English.
Oh now where going to go down that road. You couldn't stay on the issue. You didn't answer my question to you about are you still a firefighter?
You must be close to someone on the new dept. I own stuff in bloomfield, linton, and eastern greene. So how does that make me close to taylor township?
And, I'll bet you used to be on the Owensburg fire department, too?
oldfirefighter-yes it is done and over! But we don't want things like this to happen AGAIN! Maybe we all should take a look at the books. I think alot of you are going to owe the Taylor Trustee an Apology!! Again maybe we should have a public meeting for the new "Richland Fire Dept." so we can meet the new Chief....
oldfirefighter- How well do you know anyone that was on the old dept? There was alot of guys that was there for over 15 pluse years that got craped on because they were not in the click. Some of them used to be fire chiefs of the dept. One may have been around when the dept. was started and is a richland township tax payer and i could give you more of them that live in richland and was pushed a side. So tell me were the good was in that for the township and the new dept? Or go tell these guys what the good was in it. Im glad they all vol. like they do and give there time.
oldfirefighter:
I can assure you I AM NOT close to the Taylor side! I was the first to even mention a former newspaper owner was involved, so maybe I do know a lot more than you can possibly imagine!
Oldfirefighter, it wasn't just Taylor that were told they were out. There were several Richland firefighters who have been on the department for years that are out too, along with the Ladies Auxiliary. How many are actually left on Richland that were R-T members? This wasn't just to split off Taylor, it was to get rid of everyone already there and start a department with all those who have been rejected or kicked off other departments.
Maybe you should check your facts, everyone else posting these comments on here aren't wrong.
The way Mitch Daniels is doing things. I'm sure Bloomfield and Richland will be merged before you know it. As well as say Center and Eastern and Taylor and Newberry or Taylor and Crane. Or even Eastern, Center and Owensburg all be formed to all be a territory. Seems your man Mitch wants everything to be a territory or district. Just like wanting to the schools all be combined under one corp, like they are in Monroe County. Don't think that it is impossible and couldn't happen. We already see it happening around the state.
I started reading the by-laws of Richland FD. Seems as though its main purpose should be to provide emergency services instead of day-to-day operations, raising funds, THEN emergency services and finally mutual aid.
When did any fire department change its main purpose from emergency services to raising funds?
just my two cents...
LA - you are reading the bylaws of the incorporation - which is the legal entity that was established as the non-profit arm of the fire department.
oldfirefighter:
How long have you been a firefighter? A couple of years? Weren't you recently having conflicts with the newly appointed Chief?
Mitch is going to be in Bloomfield soon; and right across the road from the Richland Fire & Rescue Department.
Maybe whoever covers the "North Gate" event for this newspaper could get word to Mitch about this Fire Department split.
Bet he would be amazed.
First of all let me tell you that I greatly appreciate anyone who volunteers and runs into harms way to save a strangers home/life.
Next, let me say, I am not a "Firefighter", Volunteer or professional. I would not know any of the "Men" mentioned in this article or any of the blogs, if I was to run into them on the street. I am however, a resident of Richland Township. I have no ties to any of the new or old members of the Richland Township Fire Dept. A resident very concerned about this "Civil War" between Fire Houses.
This is becoming quite the "Testosterone Fest". Let's go back to the original article here and the true issue. Should something as drastic as this ever have been done in a meeting that: 1) did not include the trustees of both townships and 2) all the members of both Departments consulted? How about common courtesy? How about the residence these Townships? We rely on all of you who volunteer. We trust you with our safety. I doubt that I am the only one in either Township who is feeling a bit uneasy about this. Was the combined Township Fire Department broken? Did it not function? Was this the only way it could be fixed? Is there any civil conversation taking place out there to make people like myself feel safe? Is that not at least part of what a Fire Department (Volunteer or professional) is all about. Come on guys!
Most people on these departments have forgotten why they joined the fire dept, I think there needs to be a meeting that is for the people that live in Richland township about their new fire dept and if they have any questions they can ask the firefighters and the township trustee himself and get the direct answer to their question instead of just what we read on the internet or what someone tells us. And on another not a fire dept should have 2 things in mind the first and most important fire protection and the safety for the people in thier township and secound to make sure they have the funds to provide fire pertection and rescue protection cause everything cost money now days
this is still so sad to brow beating everyone like this. What's done is done. as for the person stating they were either throwed off or turned down. do you know why? wouldn't have anything to do with talking to the trustee of richland township would it? That's what I heard just asking.
I was a second generation Richland-Taylor firefighter I grew up running around their firehouses I am sick of all the b.s. that you people are posting. stick to the issue here of why this was done in the manner it was. Leave Randy Bakers ego out of it the rumors that Lori Brown did not pay her part of the bills that Terry Jackson is no good as a fire chief all that crap does not matter. but what does matter is that Mr.Davis and some firefighters decided to start a new fie dept. for Richland Twp. that is there right. BUT CMON MAN at least do it with with some dignity and respect the people who started R-T and there is still a few of them around trust me I know that for a fact and some people that have been there for 15 20 0r 25 plus years deserve that at least. cause those guys are true volunteers they got in the fire service for the right reasons to help the community. If nothing else Johnny Johnson who is as close to the true meaning of a volunteer firefighter as there is deserves that the older members from Taylor Twp.they are affected but not as much as the guys from Richland so to the one that were shut out by the new fire dept. best of luck!! and by the way Kenny If they try to arrest you have my dad call me I will take care of your bail. To Chief Baker and Lori Brown keep your head held high cause in the end the truth of all this will be known. And Randy by the way my wife said she would send me back up there if you really want her to
Respectfully
Ross Emery former R-T Asst.Chief
p.s. for all you people who have been posting all the b.s. if you have a response to this man up and put your name on your comment unless you are to scared for people to know how you really feel
Thank You Ross!!!
I served with you on the R-T dept for many years and your right in what you said. And to Johnny Johnson one of the best firefighters and chiefs that I ever served under, THANK YOU for all you done for both TWP.