• With the deadline fast approaching, the Groton Fire board tabled discussion of setting the new budget for the next year until after the commissioner hearing next Tuesday.
• Brown County and Day County Commissioners will be hosting a joint special hearing at the Groton Community Center. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2 p.m., and is a chance for the public to voice their opinions on Bath Township becoming a part of the Groton Fire and Rescue Tax District.
• The Bath Township has already submitted the signed petitions to the auditor's office. The Commissioners now have the final say in the matter and will vote following the public hearing. The Bath Township has proposed this option due to the lack of numbers in their fire department. They were facing a closing of the department which would result in a loss of local fire protection.
• If the commissioners pass the proposal, the Groton Fire District is looking at an expanded tax area, resulting in more income. However, the Bath fire department would become a satellite station and is in despite need of upgraded equipment.
• The Fire Board does not want to have to increase the amount of taxes the fire district pays, but at the same time they need to make sure the cost of maintaining a fire department is covered. The district's mil levy was decreased last year when the board set their budget lacking the proper numbers to do so. They don't want to make that mistake again, since the mil levy can't be raised again.
• The fire districts attorney, Kari Bartling, will contact the assessor's office to make sure the numbers are correct and that the mil levy will stay close to the .615 mill it is now. The Groton Fire District currently draws money from parts of Brown and Day Counties.
• In other news, the Groton Fire Department has been busy with fire calls. The latest call was to Andover for the Taylor Honey building on Sunday afternoon. According to Fire Chief Dion Bahr the Groton Firemen did a good job at the fire and everything worked well.
• Bahr also reported on the Fire Chief's meeting held recently. The mutual-aid agreements entered into by the different fire department due to the water situation will be kept in effect due to the number of bad roads in the area.
• He also reported that one fire department is against the Bath Fire Department joining Groton and stated that the Fire Chief's Association had to approve the merger. Bahr said he is checking the by-laws, but there is nothing in the State laws

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