From left, Dexter Keibler, chief of the Lyndora Volunteer Fire Company, Steve Iman and Chief Joe Hanchosky, both of Greenwood Village Volunteer Fire Department, and Butler Township Fire Marshal Larry Christy listen during Tuesday's meeting held at the Butler Township Municipal Building to discuss a possible fire department merger.

BUTLER TWP — Attendance was slim Tuesday night at the first of two public meetings to discuss the possible merger of Meridian, Lyndora and Greenwood Village volunteer fire departments.

Under the plan, the three departments would consolidate into one, tentatively named Butler Township Fire District No. 3. The group would reduce its fleet of engines to two. The three buildings would be reduced to a main station and a substation, and the three chiefs would be cut to just one.

All of the changes would be complete by Jan. 1.

The other two fire companies in the township — South Butler and Mercer Road — would continue as separate companies.

Toby Wehr, chief at Meridian, moderated the discussion with a power point presentation and a question-and-answer session.

All three departments' chiefs attended as well as other township officials, including the commissioners and the manager.

The audience included fewer than a dozen people. Of those, only three had no affiliation to any fire department.

“I'm pretty disappointed with this turnout,” said resident Vern Smith, 58, of Dolphin Drive.

Smith, who came to question the long-term goals of the merger, suggested the township organize into neighborhoods or streets and send a representative to learn about the proposal.

The officials said the merger would present a cost savings as well as an improvement in available manpower.

For example, the chiefs said it costs about $100,000 to run a fire station. Under the merger proposal, the Greenwood Village station on Old Eberhart Road will be sold.

It will be manned with an engine until it is sold, but officials said they already have talked to three people who are interested in buying it.

The Meridian station at 121 Sparks Ave. would become the main station, and Lyndora at 114 Whitestown Road would be a substation.

The three departments that would merge have a combined roster of about 85 active members.

Already, all five of the township's departments receive alerts for every structure fire. But the new department will be on one alert for fires and other emergencies beginning July 15.

“We are behind these guys 100 percent,” Dave Zarnick said of his fellow commissioners.

Wehr told the group that officials fear a merger could cause concern among township residents. Because of that, the same group will host a second public meeting at the municipal building at 7 p.m. June 25.