Teising looks to take back firefighter discussion with town hall; files motion to dismiss lawsuit by former fire chief

Wabash Twp. Trustee Jennifer Teising sets Tuesday town hall to take her case to township residents directly. Teising files motion to dismiss ex-fire chief’s claims of retaliation, defamation

Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising spars with Wabash Township board members, including David Tate (seated) and Angel Valentin, during a special budget hearing Oct. 30 at Wabash Township Fire Station No. 1. (Photo: Dave Bangert)

The story lines out of Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising’s ongoing scrum over the township fire department kept coming this weekend – with a guarantee for more this week.

FIRST UP, A TOWN HALL:  A week after the Wabash Township Board forced her hand on the 2022 fire department budget, Teising finalized plans for a Tuesday, Nov. 9, town hall. The one-hour meeting, which will be held on the video conferencing platform Zoom, will start at 6 p.m.

Teising said the town hall would “allow me to have a direct conversation I haven’t been able to have” with Wabash Township residents about pay for volunteer firefighters and future funding options for paid firefighting crews.

Teising laid off the remaining three paid firefighters on June 29 – a move that spurred calls for her resignation, lawsuits and a series of emotionally draining meetings (with and without the trustee). The situation, with volunteer firefighters trying to keep things together without paid crews at the station, remains a bone of contention with the fire department and with her exasperated township board.

Teising said she understands that.

“I want to have paid firefighters as much as anyone,” Teising said.