HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0691Building Improvements:
• Lake Norman VFD is on schedule to be replaced.
• Seven other VFDs have indicated an interest in either expanding or rebuilding.
(Union Grove, Wayside, Ebenezer and Troutman need renovations. Harmony
desires a new facility. Cool Springs is reviewing either a major renovation or new
building.
FY 05-06 Plans:
• The FTDB has decided to replace only one truck (25 yrs. old) in the upcoming year.
• Continued efforts will be made to consolidate truck purchases in the future to
maximize funds. This effort will try to include Shepherds and the Mt. Mourne
VFD.
FY 05-06 Request:
• An increase of S.01 to be used for operating costs and debt service. ("A savings in
interest expense will result due to less reliance on borrowed money.")
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Phillips said one cent equaled $600,000.
Chairman Tice asked how many man hours the extra one cent would provide.
Phillips said the extra $600,000 would be available to curtail some of the
monetary transfers out of the truck funds. He said all of the departments, with the
exception of Central, had one or two paid firemen. Phillips said Central still had a
sufficient number of volunteers who could assist when fires occurred during the day.
Commissioner Williams asked for comments from Emergency Services Director
Jackson in regards to the first responder costs being paid out of the EMS budget.
Jackson said the FTDB had provided information on the request. He said it
would probably be feasible for EMS to absorb the costs, but a directive would need to
be issued by the board of commissioners.
Williams said the FTDB money was not growing as much as in the past, and one
of the reasons was due to annexations.
Commissioner Johnson asked if the VFDs were submitting reimbursement
requests when first responder supplies were used.
Goodman said minor supplies were not that much of an issue, but it was items
such as defibrillators and their maintenance that were making the costs so high.
Williams mentioned that most of the VFD facilities were built in the 1960s with
no county funds. He said the departments were retaining older vehicles even when
replacements were purchased, and this increased the insurance costs.
Chairman Tice said it was the sentiment of many citizens that they shouldn't
have to help with VFD fundraisers due to being taxed for fire service.
Johnson said, "It's a hard sell to raise any tax." He said the public would be
asking what they were getting in exchange for higher taxes.
Goodman agreed, and he said this was the first question that was posed to the
VFDs. He said the fire departments had been reminded about how important it was to
achieve a good fire rating.
Phillips said most departments were working on their ratings. He noted that
Troutman had a 6/9. He said the insurance department had stressed the importance of
having adequate equipment.