Chiefs agree to expand fire commission; Emergency services funding debated

By Lisa Majors-Duff

Meeting with the county's volunteer fire chiefs last week (Jan. 9), county Commission Chairman Stacy Buchanan stressed the need for a "unified voice coming from emergency services, even though we know your demographics are different and you have individual requests.

"We're all in this together, and the right hand needs to know what the left hand is doing," Buchanan told those seated around the table who included Sylva Chief Mike Beck, Balsam's Johnny Nicholson, Cullowhee's Tim Green, Cashiers Chief Randy Dillard, Savannah's Darrell Woodard and Qualla's David Bell. Also attending the meeting were Sheriff Jimmy Ashe, Commissioner Brian McMahan, emergency services coordinator Mike Ensley and Kevin Burrell and Craig Burrell of the Jackson County Rescue Squad.

Emergency services play books that pre-date the Sept. 11 tragedy have been tossed aside, McMahan said.

"The way we deal with emergencies has changed," he said. "We all need to work together; we need to train together."

With these thoughts expressed, both Buchanan and McMahan pitched the idea of expanding the county's Fire Commission to include all emergency services - the Sheriff's Office, WestCare EMS, both the Sylva and Western Carolina University police departments, as well as fire and rescue personnel.

"I think it would be a good idea to bring all of us together," said Woodard, whose comment was echoed by Nicholson and Ashe.

"You're talking my language - cooperation," the sheriff said.

With that issue decided, a committee consisting of Steve Lillard of the Sheriff's Office, Woodard, Ensley and Kevin Burrell was formed to begin working on bylaws for the new Emergency Services Commission.

The remainder of the two-plus hour meeting proved more arduous as the group launched into a discussion of department funding options based on a draft budget prepared by Buchanan. Although the proposal for next year included an increase in funding for fire services, two chiefs took exception to figures proposed for their departments.

Buchanan's proposed budget includes $75,000 for each department, with the exception of Sylva, which is proposed to receive $60,000. Additionally, departments with substations (Cashiers with two and Cullowhee with one) would receive an extra $15,000 for each station.

With a budget of $234,000, Cashiers firefighters would still need to raise about $145,000 after receiving the projected $105,000 from the county, Dillard said.

"Everybody ain't the same, does anyone here think I'm wrong?" he asked. "Does anyone else have to raise $150,000 to supplement their budget?"

"I want to address the needs, but there's a big difference between 'needs' and 'wants,'" said Buchanan, who followed up his statement by pointing out that Cashiers spent some $30,000 for the chief's vehicle, a Chevy Tahoe. "Was there another vehicle for $15,000 that would have worked?"

Leaving the Tahoe out of the picture, Dillard questioned the equity of the county funding nearly 100 percent of the smaller departments' budget requests but only meeting a portion of Cashiers' request. A fire tax, which Dillard said would be supported in Cashiers, would solve the inequity.

"Ninety-six counties out of 100 do it in North Carolina," Dillard said of the tax.

"But some communities are not as gung ho for a fire tax," countered McMahan, who, along with Buchanan, said he could not support such a countywide tax. "Can we have a fire tax just in the Cashiers district?" Ensley asked, to which Buchanan answered, "Yes."

With no resolution to the question of funding for Cashiers in sight and several additional comments about the chief's Tahoe further clouding the picture, Buchanan suggested commissioners schedule a special meeting with the members of the Cashiers Fire Department in the coming weeks.

Also on the subject of emergency services funding, Buchanan proposed a capital projects account of about $126,000 be established in next year's budget to help departments with emergencies and/or long-range planning needs. Other funds were set aside in the proposal to meet requests from both the Highlands and Maggie Valley fire departments, which cover small portions of the county's extreme north and south sections.

Buchanan also asked that all departments review their contracts with the county, saying that updates may be necessary.

Before adjourning, the chiefs expressed enthusiasm for the prospect of the county employing a full-time fire marshal and briefly discussed the annual Emergency Services Appreciation Dinner to be held Monday, March 3, in WCU's University Center Grandroom.

Back to Archive: 01/16/03.