LUCY – HOUSTON COUNTY: Last evening concerned people in the community came together to discuss Lucy Volunteeer Fire Department. Two persons, former Chief and former Treasrer have been charged by Houston County Sheriff Department on theft of property on missing funds of the department.
Some current members have stepped up to the plate to get the volunteer fire department up and operating to serve the far south east end of Houston County. A long way for any department to travel for a fire, the members concerned about the rural community lives and property, and those paying the roof tax on structures with no fire department in the community.
Currently, Gordon Volunteer Fire Department, Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Department and Pansey Volunteer Fire Department are the primary departents that respond. Ashford Volunteer Fire Department and Lovetown Volunteer Fire Department also will respond if needed. The department has always fought water supply as ni water lines in the area.
Last evening Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Chief Randy Hall and Beau Deathridge over Cottonwood Rescue and Fire Chief of Hodgesville were on hand offering their assistance and guidance. Rehobeth Fire – Rescue Todd Phillips has offered his assistance in getting the department up and going.
NOT BECAUSE SHE IS SEEKING HOUSTON COUNTY COMMISSION SEAT, but because she was raised knowing the value of volunteer services in fire and EMS, Whitney Ingram Strength and her husband Steven have stepped up to the plate to help. Both were at the meeting last evening. Steven owns property near and years ago was a member of the department. They have had the utility bill sent to them and are paying the utility bill.
The group has decided to disband Lucy Volunteer Fire Department name. They feel then need to start fresh. Incorpation papers are being drafted to change to CHATTAHOCHEE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. The name was selected because they are near Chattahoochee State Park and serve that area. Everyone is rolling up their sleeves, taking on different responsibilities to get the department up and running.
The Houston County Volunteer Fire Departments are funded each year from a tobacco tax and roof top tax where there is a $ 35 fee ( or $ 30 ) fee for each structure. That has remained flat for years even though many strutures have been built. But homestead exemption has taken a lot of that money. The Houston County Volunteer Fire Chief and Houston County Commission has stopped funding the department. So the group are having to take from their pocket to get things up and going. The funding that belongs to the citizens who live in that area is being divided by the remaining 16 voluteer fire depatments acorss Houston County. When it should be placed in a savings account and a conservator over the funding to help get the department back up. The citizens of the community deserve for it to be managed and department operational. The department’s across Houston County receive about $ 41,000.00 a year.
Out of that funding they have to pay insurance, workmen comp in the event a fireman gets hurt, utiltiies for the building – which at these temperatures the garage bay has to be heated for the trucks to be ready. They have to pay for fuel, fire fighting gear for the fireman, and old trucks maintained. Because water is a issue ( the volunteer fire department can not control – but Houston County Commission can) they have to have large water tanker. Hard to fight a fire with no water. They have to work in maintaining a ISO Rating which requires pump testing, fire hose management, what is the departments available water supply, and more. Other than water tankers, the volunteers have no control over fire hydrants.
And responding in that area at night, DEER feel the roads belong to them and arrive in the road in a hurry. Saw three last evening and I drove at 30 miles per hour because of the deer. Think of responding to emergencies.
The President of the Houston County Fire Chief Association is Jason Reneau who also is Kinsey Volunteer Fire Chief and Mayor of Kinsey. The Houston County Commissioners are Brandon Shoupe, Chairman, D1 Curtis Harvey, D2 Tracy Adams, D3 Ricky Herring and D4 James Ivey. The Dothan-Houston County Emergency Management Director is Mark Powell. No where to be seen to get the department up and going.
The ones who are met are determined to get the department up and running. They are determined to financially responsble. The name change and leadership change has been made. And they are determined to get the citizens the fire coverage they are paying for and deserve.
The department also responds to medical emergencies in the area while EMS is responding. They also need more volunteers willing to serve as volunteer fireman.
