OWENSVILLE —Owensville Rural Protective Association directors on Monday conduced a public hearing to disband the non-profit organization formed in 1948 to help the city of Owensville fund fire service in communities surrounding town.

“One step closer,’’ said Cheryl Schlottach with the ORPA at the close of the 17-minute hearing with 32 area residents in attendance.

Cathy Lehnhoff made the motion to disband the association which received a second from Stephanie Weckler. The final vote was 31-1 to disband with John Nicks casting the lone dissenting vote.

The association was formed to collect dues, $3 annually when incorporated on Jan. 21, 1948 as a “pro-forma” corporation through a Circuit Court decree, to assist the city of Owensville in providing equipment to provide fire services for rural residents in the surrounding communities.

A copy of the original bylaws for the association noted the group’s “duration shall be perpetual” — an item also noted in the May 1, 2012, amendment to that document.

The group is disbanding, however, to allow for the voter-approved Owensville Fire Protection District’s new board of directors to take over finances, fire stations, and related apparatus and equipment on Jan. 1, 2026, as authorized in the vote to create the fire protection district.

Those attending the hearing were told that the association being disbanded will turn over assets remaining in certificates of deposit which totaled $130,334.15 as of their meeting Monday. Schlottach said the rural association will be responsible for spending approximately $52,000 of that amount by the end of December as the group’s prorated annual contribution to the city of Owensville to assist with providing fire service. The rural association has been paying $105,000 annually to the city from dues received to support the local fire service which is comprised of volunteers.

Also to be paid out of that remaining balance is an estimated $6,000 to $10,000 for budgeted expenses including a new radio communications tower on Enke Road, a d of the insurance premium, and the yet to be finalized legal fees necessary throughout the process to form the tax-supported fire district and to close out the rural association.

The unspent balance of the remaining portion of the dues collected will be turned over to the new Owensville Fire Protection District, Schlottach said. After Jan. 1, the district will be tax-payer supported and dues will no longer be collected.

Both fire stations in Owensville and the one in Mt. Sterling, which opened in 1985, will become property of the new fire district as will apparatus, brush trucks, and other related equipment. The fire district will lease the buildings from the city for a nominal fee, expected at $1 a building per year. Apparatus and vehicles are also scheduled to be turned over to the fire district for an expected fee of $1 for each titled vehicle and trailer.