Marshall County Commissioners table fFire grant decision for Polk & Tip Twps. amid training dispute

Two rural Marshall County fire departments may still have a shot at receiving county Public Safety Grant funding, but the decision remains on hold after commissioners tabled the matter last week pending a review by the county's Emergency Management Director.

John Grolich, President of the Marshall County Fire Association, appeared before the Board of Commissioners last week alongside Polk Township Fire Chief Ray Platz to ask that the county reconsider denying Public Safety Grant reimbursements — of up to $50,000 each — to Polk Township and Tippecanoe Township Fire Departments.

Grolich said he believed the issue stemmed from a breakdown in communication between the fire chiefs and their township trustees, rather than a failure to participate in required training. He told commissioners that both departments attended two separate trainings in 2025 — a mental health course and a leadership program — hosted by Grolich himself using Public Safety Grant funds.

The sticking point is a prerequisite established by Commissioner Adam Faulstich requiring fire departments to participate in at least one Marshall County Emergency Management Agency-sponsored training course in order to qualify for the grant.

Faulstich was candid about why the requirement was put in place. "The requirement was put in place with the intent of getting participation with EMA as a whole because participation was lacking across the county," he said. He added that following the standard also helps EMA meet its own requirements, and said he was reluctant to make exceptions — but left a door open. "If the EMA Director can accept one of the trainings, I may yield and consider the grant funding for the two townships," Faulstich said. "We really need to stick to a standard that has been set."

Chief Platz acknowledged there had been confusion on his department's end about which trainings satisfied the ordinance requirements. He also noted that his department participated in anhydrous ammonia training in Argos last year, hosted by Purdue Extension. Looking ahead, Platz has already registered for a tabletop exercise on hazardous materials training hosted by the LEPC on August 29th, and Grolich said he expects a representative from Tippecanoe Township Fire to attend as well.

Platz also offered a candid look at the challenges facing volunteer rural fire departments. "A lot of what I do is out of my heart," he said. "I'm probably one of the lowest-paid chiefs in the county." He noted that many of his volunteers work two jobs, making time for additional training a serious challenge.

The three commissioners landed in different places on the request. Commissioner Jesse Bohannon suggested the training requirement may have been drawn too narrowly, and said he would be agreeable to awarding the grant funds if both Polk and Tippecanoe Township Fire Departments attend the August hazardous materials training.

Commissioner Stan Klotz expressed frustration, noting that the Public Safety Grant program was designed with exactly these smaller departments in mind. "I'm a little disappointed because we set this program up specifically for Polk and Tip Township," Klotz said. "We knew that because of OSHA requirements, they needed financial help." Despite his sympathy for the departments, Klotz said he had already consulted EMA Director Jack Garner, who said the trainings the departments attended did not qualify, and that left him little room to act. "I'm sorry, but I've got to be a no because the rules are the rules," Klotz said.

The commissioners ultimately tabled the request, directing EMA Director Jack Garner to review the training attendance records and the departments' explanations before a final decision is made. The matter is expected to return to the commissioners at a future meeting.