NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS OF HEARING ON PROPOSED RE-ESTABLISHED FIRE PROTECTION TERRITORY EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND FOR THE CLAY-PENN FIRE PROTECTION TERRITORY   Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of Harris Township, Clay Township, German Township, Penn Township, the Town of Roseland, the Town of Indian Village, and the Town of Osceola, all in St. Joseph County, Indiana, that the Roseland Town Council, Osceola Town Council, Indian Village Town Council, Penn Township Board, German Township Board, Clay Township Board and Harris Township Board will consider on March 9, 2026 at 6:00p.m. at 123 Bain Street, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544 the re-establishment of a Fire Protection Territory Equipment Replacement Fund on behalf of the Clay-Penn Fire Protection Territory under the provisions of Indiana Code 36-8-19-8.5 for the purposes as follows: For all uses as set out in IC 36-8-19-8.5 and as provided for in the Clay-Penn Fire Protection Territory Agreement. The establishment of an Equipment Replacement Fund is occurring in connection with the amendment of the Clay-Penn Fire Protection Territory. The Provider Unit in the Territory shall be Clay Township. The Participating Units in the Territory shall be Harris Township, Clay Township, German Township, Penn Township, the Town of Roseland, the Town of Indian Village, and the Town of Osceola. The tax will be levied on all taxable real and personal property within the taxing district and will not exceed $0.0333 per $100 of assessed valuation. The proposed fund will be levied beginning with taxes due and payable in the year 2027. Taxpayers appearing at such hearing shall have the right to be heard thereon. The proposed tax rate for the Equipment Replacement Fund is subject to certification by the Department of Local Government Finance. Within 30 days after the date of adoption of the Equipment Replacement Fund by the Roseland Town Council, Osceola Town Council, Indian Village Town Council, German Township Board, Penn Township Board, Clay Township Board and Harris Township Board, the Town of Roseland, Harris Township, Penn Township, Clay Township, German Township, the Town of Osceola, and Town of Indian Village, all of St. Joseph County, Indiana will publish a Notice of Adoption. Twenty-five (25) or more taxpayers with taxable property located in Harris Township, Clay Township, German Township, Penn Township, the Town of Roseland, the Town of Indian Village, and the Town of Osceola in St. Joseph County, Indiana may file a petition with the St. Joseph County Auditor no later than noon 30 days after the publication of this Notice setting forth their objections to the proposed cumulative fund. Upon the filing of the petition, the County Auditor shall immediately certify the same to the Department of Local Government Finance, at which point the Department will fix a date for and conduct a public hearing on the proposed cumulative fund before issuing its approval, disapproval, or modification thereof.   Dated: February 23, 2026   CLAY TOWNSHIP BOARD PENN TOWNSHIP BOARD HARRIS TOWNSHIP BOARD GERMAN TOWNSHIP BOARD OSCEOLA TOWN COUNCIL ROSELAND TOWN COUNCIL INDIAN VILLAGE TOWN COUNCIL