Terry Frank
Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank has asked the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department to postpone its controversial proposal to switch to a subscription-based plan.
The AVFD currently relies on donations, but Fire Chief Jeff Bagwell has proposed switching to a membership-based department on Jan. 1. Residents would pay a tax-deductible fee of 0.08 cents per square foot. The fire department would still respond to all fires, but non-members would be billed for service, Bagwell said in an Oct. 22 letter and list of frequently asked questions.
The first hour of a response to a structure fire could cost $1,900, Bagwell said.
“Fires could result in several thousands of dollars,†he said.
Those who aren’t AVFD members could pay significantly higher insurance rates.
Frank said she has received more calls on that proposal than on any other since she took office after the Aug. 2 election. It is also the No. 1 topic of concern at most meetings outside the Anderson County Courthouse, Frank said.
“I am a big fan of our volunteer fire departments and I really love and respect so many dedicated volunteers and their supporters in Andersonville,” Frank said in a Wednesday morning press release. “However, when there are more questions than answers for the plans as presented, I feel it is my duty to step forward. Citizens feel they have no recourse, and it is my duty to help them.â€
The proposal is the subject of a special hearing of the Anderson County Commission Operations Committee at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.
Bagwell said the conversion to a membership department will help the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department develop stable and consistent revenue. That, in turn, will help:
- improve insurance ratings and decrease the cost of fire and commercial insurance;
- complete a new fire station for Belmont, decreasing response time by eight to 12 minutes;
- hire trained drivers to ensure the equipment is ready to respond and properly maintained 24 hours per day; and
- provide the best training and equipment for volunteers.
Last week, Frank said there didn’t appear to be much the county could do to stop the plan, but she said the program needed more “public buy-in.â€
“I just think they should pull back and do an awareness campaign,†she said.
Bagwell said the AVFD service area has grown and the call volume has increased, but the donation rate has stayed at 20 percent.
“This means that 80 percent of the residents did not donate to defray the operational costs of running a fire department,†he said.
Although volunteers work for free, Bagwell said, the fire department has to pay for fire trucks, stations, fuel, equipment, hoses, workers compensation, insurance, and other costs.
And the department can spend thousands on other items, Bagwell said. Replacing a fire truck can cost $450,000—not including equipment—and the cost to equip just one firefighter with his or her personal protective equipment is more than $14,000, Bagwell said.
In addition, the new Belmont Fire Station is expected to cost $100,000 to complete. It is needed to meet the growing needs of the AVFD for the next 25 to 30 years, Bagwell said.
He said property owners would be responsible for membership fees, and renters would not be billed for 911 calls.
Those who can’t afford the membership fee could request a hearing from the fire department’s board of directors, which could reduce and/or waive fees for those on limited incomes or with other hardships.
Frank said too many residents in the AVFD service area are concerned about their financial well-being as well as their emergency service response.
“The success of any plan, not just a fire plan, depends on the trust of those you serve,†Franks said. “I feel the sheer number of questions and the level of concern and risk are setting the fire department a step back.
“I know Chief Bagwell has his heels dug in hard on this, but I encourage the full Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department board to stop with the plan until a full and thorough hearing and review can be held,†Frank said.
She said Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager has agreed to answer several legal questions from concerned citizens. Frank said she has some legal questions of her own.
“If the full fire department board is willing to put their plans on hold, we can set a date for some of those questions to be answered,†Frank said.
Angi Agle says
Perhaps the best way to help these citizens would be to ensure that the fire departments are properly funded, so the volunteers have the equipment to do their jobs safely?
Sam Hopwood says
I think you are right. If it takes a few pennies on the tax rate, so be it. How do other counties handle this?
John Huotari says
There are other volunteer fire departments in Anderson County (Briceville, Claxton, Marlow), but I’m not sure how they are funded.
Ck Kelsey says
Bagwell himself said on the radio that they go out on a high percentage of calls only as back-up. Here’s the deal .He’s padding the stats jst like ALL law enforcement and Fire departments are doing. MORE government less freedom,economic assaults on we the people. They will NEVER get a subscription from me or my property. i don’t subscribe or adhere to blackmail. Period. They better let my place burn if they think I want their “selective” service
.
David A. Vudragovich says
Is there a way for them to bill who ever for being back up support? Shift the cost to who is incurring it?
Ck Kelsey says
“back up support ” as I wrote is mostly a scam of padding their numbers. We are being played for suckers IMHO.
David A. Vudragovich says
a) Call your insurance company to see if you have coverage. My home owner’s insurance company will pay if the fire department comes and there is a flame. Smoke is not enough for them to pay. I am actually leaving them next June due to my disapproval of their agency practices. The receptionist at Rural Metro told me no insurance company pays for fire companies when I called about having received a letter to pay for annual coverage. (2010) But it saves me $400 annually, I do not know the sq foot rate.
b) Ask the state fire department people for money. I just recently learned if a fully certified fire fighter wants to move to TN from another state (with 13 years experience) he has to go and retake and repass all his certifications. (source firemen both in and outside of TN). That is a barrier to entry to people being willing to move to TN.