The new year will be a new era for Madison Township, a community divided over the closing of its fire department two years ago.
All three trustees who disbanded the fire department in 2015, will be out of office next year, replaced by two newcomers elected last week and a trustee elected two years ago, following the department closing.
Rick Houston and Pat Chesterton were the top vote-getters in the Nov. 7 general election. They join Doug Barr on the board in 2018.
The trustees who voted to close the department and contract with neighboring Hanover Township for service were Ric Lahmers, defeated in 2015, and Karen Barger and Jody German, both whom did not seek re-election this year. The trio had a combined 64 years of experience as trustees.