Only two people chose to speak at what will most likely be the only public hearing on the Vance County fiscal 2006-2007 budget.
First to speak was Randy Newman, Chief of the Vance County Rescue Squad. Newman requested that commissioners provide funding equal to that provided to volunteer fire departments.
Newman told commissioners that he realizes that fire departments receive the fire tax, but that the rescue squad has expenses just like the fire department. He also informed commissioners that while volunteer fire departments have a six-mile district, the rescue squad “runs the whole county”.
Second and last to speak at the public hearing was Fire Chief Danny Wilkerson. Wilkerson told commissioners that his information about the budget had come through the media, but that he understood there was a supplimental budget. He said that he also understood that 911 was going to have additional telecommunicator positions funded.
The fire chief told commissioners that his department was pressed for manpower, and that he had asked for more manpower over the last several budgets.
“911’s got to get calls, but we have to run the calls they give us,” Wilkerson told the board.
Wilkerson advised the council that he would like for them to take a “hard look” and start funding some of the positions.
The chief indicated that the council had pressed the issue of fire protection in the county with him in the recent past.
“I can have the best equipment in the world, but I need people to operate it,” Wilkerson told commissioners.
The chief told the commission that he was conscious of the programs and the unfunded mandates that the county was required to fulfill, but he asked that his request be kept in mind during the budget process.