In a special meeting by the township board on Wednesday afternoon, Saline Fire Department chief Jason Sperle led a discussion about the fire department’s transition to becoming a fire authority. “In all practical purposes, the department has been operating like an authority but has not able to take advantage of the benefits of being an authority,” Sperle said. There is one fire station to service all 87 square miles,” Sperle said. “Whatever millage rate is approved by the fire board would go on the ballot within each jurisdiction,” said Fred Lucas, consulting attorney for Saline Township. Once approved by the fire board, each board within the municipalities would then need to vote to ratify the Articles of Incorporation., creating the Saline Area Fire Authority.