Fire districts under interlocal agreement

The Monroe Fire District 3 and Clearview District 7 has been operating under a new interlocal agreement since Jan. 1 that guides the consolidation of fire services in the two districts. Successful execution of the ILA could pave way for a full fire district merger later in the year.-á

Per the ILA, District 7 Chief Gary Meek and District 3 Chief Jamie Silva will remain chiefs of their respective districts, but the administrative staff will begin consolidating. Should a full merger take place, the organizational structure would change with Meek at the helm and Silva assuming the role of assistant chief. District 3 and 7 commissioners held a joint board meeting in Monroe on Monday, Jan. 11, to discuss the implementation of the ILA.

Executive administrative staff will relocate to Monroe in February, including Meek, who will take over Silva's office. Operational staff will transition to District 7, located off S.R. 9 in Clearview.

"When we sat down and started putting people in chairs in the station, the best alignment was to bring the executive staff down here and bring the operational divisions up to station 7,GÇ¥ Meek said.-á

Assistant Chief Steve Guptill is currently working out the logistics of the move.

For more information on the ILA, visit www.monroefire.org.