Salem’s fire chief came before county commissioners Tuesday to update them on the department’s incorporation process and ask for a little help.

Steve Viles said the department is still writing up their by-laws and trying to form a board of directors so they can be officials incorporated as their own entity.

Currently, they are an entity of the county and according to county clerk Julie Magoon’s knowledge, are the only department in the county to not be incorporated.

Viles asked commissioners if any of them would like to sit on the board and commissioner Meldon Gilmore, of Freeman Township, agreed to do so as Salem is in his zone as commissioner.

The chief said he wanted a commissioner on the board so the department would stay “in the loop” despite their separation from the county.

Commissioner Gary McGrane pointed out to Viles that the department’s “administrative expenses are going to balloon” once the department incorporates. Currently, much of the paperwork is done by Kingfield’s Fire Department or the county, said McGrane.

In the 2003-04 fiscal year, the county approved $12,920 for the department, which comes out of the unorganized territory budget. Despite the separation, the department will continue to submit a budget request to the county for funds, however, the county will not be liable for the department.

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