Lansing’s city administrator argues a city-operated fire department in the place of an existing fire district will increase accountability and reduce bureaucracy.
The Lansing City Council has announced plans to withdraw from Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 at the end of 2019.
City officials plan to replace the fire district with a new Lansing Fire Department.
“We view it more as reorganizing the leadership structure of the department,” City Administrator Tim Vandall said.
Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 currently provides fire protection services to the city of Lansing and Delaware and High Prairie townships. The fire district utilizes full-time employees as well as volunteer firefighters.
Vandall said city officials plan to maintain employees and volunteers from the fire district.
He said the city of Lansing will offer to provide fire protection services to the two townships through the new Lansing Fire Department.
(Read more: Leavenworth Times)