The new board for the recently formed Central Cass Fire Department will take effect April 15, it was announced Monday at the Village of Cassopolis council meeting.

The fire department will protect most of LaGrange and Jefferson Townships and all of the village of Cassopolis, according to Fire Chief Jeff Locke.

The village council voted 6-1 Monday night to allow the council to nominate a fire board representative rather than appoint one — the final step in setting up the fire board.

Trustee Dianna McGrew was the only one to vote no, although Village President Clare Mallo said he voted yes “with a lot of reservations.”

“The only problem is I would like to appoint and not nominate,” McGrew said.

Locke said he couldn’t imagine a situation in which the board would deny a nomination from the village council. He was happy to see the village finally come to an agreement with the townships on representation on the board.

“I know the fire board has been a sticky issue,” Locke told the council. “But it’s the best thing for the fire department and for the taxpayers.”

The council also voted 5-1 to nominate Trustee Tex Sheteron to the fire board with Mallo voting no and Sheteron abstaining.

Locke said under the new fire department, the village will get the “same coverage” without having to pay extra for it. LaGrange Township, which the village is a part of, and neighboring Jefferson Township will fund the department and pay for the department’s new building.

The new firehouse will be constructed at 23201 M-60, replacing the old Cassopolis Village Fire Department building at 139 Broadway.

The department will use the village’s fire department equipment.

Also at Monday’s meeting, McGrew made a motion to cut village council members’ meeting per diem as a cost-cutting measure. The motion died for lack of support.

Village Manager Meg Cluckey asked the board for another recommendation of how to cut costs.

Mallo suggested cutting the board from seven members to five members, which he said would save the village $3,240 a year. Cluckey said the village may have to change its code of ordinances for that to happen.

Cluckey is recommending that the board cut costs in some way in order to show it is “tightening the belt,” as she prepares to enter into contract negotiations with village employees.

No non-union employees will be receiving a pay increase, Cluckey said.

“The board wants to show they are foregoing something too,” she said.

The board members’ only compensation is the per diem for their monthly board meetings.