OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen The Silver Creek Fire Department will continue to be housed in its current fire hall for the next two years, thanks to an agreement between the Bay Creek Fire District and the Village of Silver Creek.

SILVER CREEK — For the next two years, the Silver Creek Fire Department is not going anywhere. The Village Board approved a two-year lease with the Bay Creek Fire District to allow for the Silver Creek Fire Department to continue operating out of its current fire hall, owned by the Village of Silver Creek.

“We will be going from owning a fire department to working with a fire department. The Silver Creek squad, for the time being, is going to remain housed in their current location,” said Silver Creek Mayor Jeff Hornburg.

The agreement is a two-year lease of the space, through 2027, with an option for the District to extend for another two years upon expiration of the lease, if the District wishes to continue. The cost to rent the facilities for the first year of the agreement is $24,000.

The Bay Creek Fire District Election of Fire Commissioners was recently held at the Silver Creek Fire Hall, with the initial Board of Andy Allaire, Rich Brennan, Colleen Griewisch, Janet Harmon, and Shawn Smith all elected to remain on the Board.

“Congratulations to the newly elected Bay Creek Fire Commissioners. I’m sure they are going to do an excellent job,” Village Trustee Sandra Lindstrom said.

Additionally, the Village Board accepted the results of the election of officers for the Silver Creek Emergency Squad, held Dec. 1. Jeff Griewisch was elected as President, with Jim Tytka Jr. as Vice President, and Colleen Griewisch as Secretary/Treasurer.

The Silver Creek Fire Department and Emergency Squad received a total of 46 calls in the month of December, including 38 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls. In every month of 2025, the department received more than 20 EMS calls and more than 30 calls overall. In total, the Silver Creek Fire Department and Emergency Squad received 303 EMS calls in 2025, and a total of 469 calls overall.

The Village Board also approved Tim Ippolito and Ron Raczka for membership to the Silver Creek Fire Department, as approved by the Board of Fire Wardens.

After more than two years, the Village of Silver Creek has finally received its new ambulance. The new vehicle cost roughly $340,000. The final payment was made upon delivery.

A series of budget transfers and adjustments was also approved by the Village Board, upon the advice of accountants at Bahgat & Laurito-Bahgat. The transfers include reserve funds, EMS staffing funds, and the required funds to cover the final payment for the new ambulance.