Rural Fire Discussions Continue

HUNTINGDON (September 26) — As of Thursday morning, September 26, the Carroll County Rural Fire Department Committee has not made a definitive decision/recommendation on the department’s future. Since the August 19, meeting, Carroll County officials and Commissioners have been discussing the future of the Rural Fire Department.

In the August 19 meeting, Marc Alley, Emergency/Fire Management Consultant with County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) informed members of the Carroll County Commission, Rural Fire Committee members and local firefighters that the current system the county is operating under does not constitute as a rural county wide fire department. The department was created in the 1980s under Wesley Beals administration. In order to become a county wide fire department, Carroll County must first pass a resolution creating a department.

The gist of Thursday’s meeting was to provide a list of questions to be answered before recommending the creation of a state-recognized county fire department. The main question is the cost/burden on the budget. The budgeted items would include but are not limited to utility costs, renting or leasing of property, insurance costs and maintenance costs. Mayor Butler stated that once a resolution is passed creating a rural fire department the county is responsible for the funding.

Commissioner Philip Moore stated he was concerned about funding and was worried that stations would lose their individual identity which would then in turn hinder community support. Commissioner Jimmy McClure explained that the stations could keep their individuality but needed to represent the entire county, not just a specific community. To help with funding, community members could have something similar to a booster club that is a 501(c)(3) that could in turn help with meeting the needs of the individual stations.

Commissioner Dan Willman said that the current state of the fire department as a whole is a mess. He added there are numerous deficiencies in training especially in leadership roles. Commissioner Moore, a firefighter and station chief, later responded that he took issue with Commissioner Willman’s statement. Willman elaborated that there are good districts/stations but the main concern boils down to safety. The county can’t keep doing what it’s doing.

Chairperson Commissioner Lana Suite stated it all comes down to dollars and cents. The Rural Fire Committee and the Commission have to make a data-driven decision. To move forward with a resolution in October, the Rural Fire Committee needs to meet again in October the answers to financial questions.

Commissioner McClure agreed stating they had to move forward making steps each year towards building a strong foundation for the future.

A request was made for each station/district to provide a monthly statement of operation costs.

At no time during the meeting did the Rural Fire Committee comment address replacing Amanda Sneed as fire chief nor was there a discussion of her taking over as Carroll County Emergency Management director, a position held by her mother, Janice Newman, who recently retired. There has been requests from County Commissions, local firefighters and others in the county asking Mayor Joseph Butler to consider opening the hiring process up for both positions in order to cast a wider net outside of the immediate area.

The Rural Fire Committee meets again on October 10 at 8 a.m. in the conference room of the Carroll County Government Complex.