OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Pictured are the Fire Chiefs of the two departments that merged under the new Bay Creek Fire District, Silver Creek Fire Chief Brandyn Griewisch, left, and Sunset Bay Fire Chief Rob Weiskerger, right.

HANOVER — With all the talk of the new Fire District in Hanover over the past year, the residents will now get their chance to cast their votes for who will be calling the shots. The first election of fire commissioners for the Bay Creek Fire District will be on Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Silver Creek Fire Hall.

Five candidates will be selected to the Board of Fire Commissioners by the public. There are nine candidates on the ballot: Andy Allaire, Rich Brennan, Colleen Griewisch, Janet Harmon, Shawn Smith, Irene Blakely, Daniel Curry, Steven D’Angelo, and Mark A. Wolf.

Upon the formation of the district, Allaire, Brennan, Griewisch, Harmon, and Smith were appointed to the Board. Smith has been serving as Chairman of the Board, and Griewisch has been serving as Secretary. She recently submitted a budget to the Town of Hanover.

“I’m very happy with our fire district commissioners that we appointed. They have done a very good job. They have set the budget and I’m thinking that it is going to work out very well,” said Town of Hanover Supervisor Lou Pelletter.

The Bay Creek Fire District approved and adopted the 2026 annual budget following a budget hearing held on Oct. 22. The district’s first budget established a tax rate of $1.99 per thousand dollars of assessed value. The total amount to be raised by taxes for fire protection throughout the district is $454,660.

The budget shows a total contractual expenditure cost of $423,385, with $7,000 in salary to the treasurer, $7,000 in personal services, $1,500 in equipment, and $22,000 in redemption of notes. Other costs include workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and hospital, medical, and accident insurance.

The Bay Creek Fire District was authorized to purchase fuel from the Town of Hanover at a cost equal to the highest rate charged each month through the TPS Fuel Contract, providing a Bay Creek representative signs an agreement with the Town of Hanover.