An Argos Fire Protection Territory may have another chance, after the Marshall County Republican Party filled a vacancy on the Green Township Board Friday. Anna Barlow was selected, despite the fact that she wasn’t actually at Friday’s caucus.
The only person voting was Precinct Committeeman Kevin Dunham. “She was really hot on the job, wanting the job,” he said. “She gave reasons. She had relatives in Starke County, and they’re somewhat of a territory. The house burnt. The fire department took 45 minutes to get there. And that’s another thing. If there is no fire or EMS, nobody has to come to Argos.”
The township board’s vote on the measure earlier this month ended in a one-to-one tie, blocking the proposal from getting approved and setting off an effort to bring the board up to its full three members.
Barlow was one of three candidates who filed paperwork for Friday’s caucus. Chancey Joe Dennie said he wasn’t opposed to the idea of the territory, but felt the property tax hike it would bring is unfair to landowners. “I’m the third generation on the family farm,” he said. “And we’ve certainly paid enough over the years and if we have to pay more, we will, but I think there’s a better way to fund this idea that they’ve got or this code.”
Shawnda Wenino, on the other hand, cited a number of instances that Argos EMS has been there for her family. “I had a great aunt who fell and broke her hip and a great uncle during Thanksgiving dinner had a medical seizure and EMS left their Thanksgiving dinner to come to my house,” she said. “I had a cousin who was unresponsive, and 13 years ago, I lost my dad. He was unresponsive and Argos EMS came and did what they could, but God had already called him home. So I know how important it is to have the facilities and what we need.”
With a third township board member now in place, a fourth public hearing on the Argos Fire Protection Territory will be held Thursday at 7:00 p.m. EDT at Argos Town Hall.
