Vance County resident Robert Minnish spoke to the Vance County Board of Commissioners on Monday evening regarding the formation of a new volunteer fire company in the County.
Minnish told commissioners that his group was looking for a contract with the County for the a volunteer company to get residents additional fire insurance coverage.
Vance County residents who live more than five road miles distant from a fire station score a “10”, or “no fire protection” on their fire insurance rating. Although the Vance County Fire Department and/or a volunteer fire company will respond to calls to their property, the end result for the property owner is a high fire insurance premium.
Minnish told the board that he had begun the process of forming a volunteer company, and that the next step was contacting the County.
He told the commissioners that he would “work with them”. Referring to a study of the fire protection structure of Vance County that is to be conducting sometime in the future, Minnish told the Board that he would accept a limited contract.
Later in the meeting, during the report of the Public Safety Committee, County Manager Jerry Ayscue reported that the committee was pleased that people were willing to volunteer for the Kerr Lake Fire Department. He also commented that the study would be very important to Minnish’s plans.
Ayscue added in a caveat that funding the department could reduce the amount of money that the other fire departments receive.
The manager told commissioners that the committee recommended offering a one-year contract to the new department with an option to renew for another year.
Ayscue also reported that Minnish had asked him to sign a document that would allow the embryonic Kerr Lake Fire Department to receive surplus equipment.
“I didn’t feel I had the authority to do that,” Ayscue said.
County Commissioner Scott Hughes said that the future study might indicate that the Golden Belt Fire Department should move.
There was also an indication during the discussion that the study might call for the Golden Belt Fire Department and the Kerr Lake Fire Department to merge at some point in the future.
Commissioner Danny Wright observed that it would take a rise in fire tax to get everyone to the same coverage that they’ve been getting.
Board of Commissioners Chair Deborah Brown disagreed with Danny Wright, stating that the Kerr Lake Fire Department did not have to be addressed in this year’s budget.
Danny Wright observed that it should be considered in long-range planning.
“I support it, but we have to be willing to fund it,” Danny Wright said.
Danny Wright then moved, with Hughes seconding, that Ayscue be authorized to draw up a one-year contract for the Kerr Lake Fire Department with an option to renew for another year.
The motion passed unanimously.
Hughes then took an opportunity to recognize members of the Vance County Rescue Squad. He told commissioners and the audience that the squad had begun responding to calls with the Vance County Fire Department without requesting additional funds.
The members of the Vance County Rescue Squad stood to general applause.