Berne agrees to fire contracts

The fire contracts that the city of Berne has with the area townships will all be receiving increases in 2024. The change was brought up at the Tuesday night meeting of the Berne City Council, where Mayor Gregg Sprunger explained that this remains consistent with what has been done over the past several years. This helps the city keep up with inflation Each township’s increase to three percent, which will account for a total of $2,059.59 in addition to contract revenue with Berne.

The townships along with their 2023 and 2024 contracted amounts are listed below:

• Bluecreek, $9583.75 in 2023, $9,871.26 in 2024, which amounts to a $287.51 increase.

• French, $10,076.02 in 2023, $10,378.30 in 2024, which amounts to a $302.28 increase.

• Hartford, $8,489.44 in 2023, $8,744.12 in 2024, which amounts to a $254.68 increase.

• Jefferson, $8,378.10 in 2023, $8,629.45 in 2024, which amounts to a $251.34 increase.

• Monroe, $19,011.74 in 2023, $19,582.09 in 2024, which amounts to a $570.35 increase.

• Wabash, $13,114.14 in 2023, $13,507.56 in 2024, which amounts to a $393.42 increase.

In total, the sum of all the contracts will grow from $68,653.18 to $70,712.77. The contracts had previously been approved by the Berne Board of Works and was then officially approved and signed by the members of the council.

In other matters, the Council unanimously approved a resolution confirming the designation of FCC as an economic revitalization area and approved them receiving a tax abatement. The abatement, which was requested in light of a new manufacturing equipment purchase, will be 100% for the first five years, and then it will drop 10% each year beginning with the sixth year.

A public hearing was held on the matter, but no local residents had any comments for the council. The next Berne City Council meeting will be held on June 12th at 6:30 p.m.