West Knox VFD turns down $50 fee

Members of the West Knox Volunteer Fire Department plan not to immediately pursue addition of a mandatory fire membership fee on county tax bills.

On Monday night, members decided not to ask fiscal court members to enact an ordinance that would have placed a $50 fire membership fee on the tax bills. The decision came following two public meetings, one on Friday night and one on Saturday afternoon.”

In a statement Monday afternoon, Deputy Chief Darryl Baker said, “We have decided to postpone approaching the Knox County Fiscal Court concerning adding our membership fee to the property tax bill. We will instead be trying some of the suggestions of our community members.”

However, Baker noted that if alternative methods of fundraising fail, the department might have no other choice than to ask for the action.

“If these ideas were to fail, we will have to approach the fiscal court for funding or close the doors,” he said, noting that public participation and response will be key in the effort. “We ask that the community not let these efforts fail. Keep the support voluntary and keep your fire department in business.”

Baker said the department’s alternative approach would involve several facets, including a public information media blitz to inform the community of what the department’s needs are.

In addition, Baker said the department would be sending out membership cards to residential and business property owners in the community, seeking their participation via a voluntary membership.

“We will be sending out membership cards to everyone in our community that we can get an address for. We only got a 14.5% response from our cards we sent out this last time (203 out of 1400). We hope the response will be greater this time. We ask for a $50 per year membership fee,” he added.

During Friday night’s public meeting, several people suggested that community members help in raising funds for the department, an idea that Baker and the department are embracing.

“We will be forming a Fire Department Auxiliary. The Auxiliary will be made up of community members that wish to help the fire department, but have no desire to be firefighters,” he said. “The main purpose of the auxiliary will be to raise funds for the fire department.”

Baker said a meeting would be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7 to form the auxiliary. The meeting will be held at the West Knox Fire Department Station 1, next to the old Lynn Camp School.

Baker said he is hopeful that the department can find another way to secure adequate funding without having to pursue the mandatory membership on tax bills.

“We hope these three things will make everyone in our community aware of what we need to survive. We need their yearly donation to survive. Without a majority of our communities support, we will be forced to do what none of us want…to close the doors,” he said.

Baker said rising costs of such things as fuel, equipment, insurance and other items, coupled with decreasing revenues, has volunteer fire departments in a pinch.

“Our voluntary fees have started to dwindle down. We have been trying to come up with a solution,” Baker said, adding that the department’s annual funding currently comes from a variety of sources.

According to income information provided by the department, in 2008 the department received $52,342 in funding, including $16,560 from payment of fire dues, $2,081 in donations, $5,755 from fundraisers,
$5,281 from the Laurel Fiscal Court, $4,625 in insurance payments, and $705 listed as “miscellaneous” funds.

In addition, Baker said the department receives an annual state subsidy of $8,250. In 2008, they also received a $17,335 FEMA grant to purchase a new thermal imaging camera.

Baker said that only about nine percent of the 1,400 Knox County households served by the department currently pay the $50 subscription fee.

During Friday night’s meeting, several community residents stepped up to the microphone to voice their support for the department including resident Jim Powell, who recently witnessed the need for a fire department first hand.
Powell, who spoke out in favor of the measure to put the fee on tax bills, said he credits the department for saving his uncle’s home during a Valentine’s Day fire.

“I’ve never had a home to burn. I pray to God I never have one burn,”

Powell said, adding that he will never forget how he felt when he arrived on the scene and saw the flames coming out of his uncle’s home. “It was the most gut-wrenching feeling…”

Powell said, “They saved my uncle’s home. There was a little smoke and water, but their lives are intact.”
Baker noted that not only does the community benefit from having the department there during an emergency, homeowners also save an average of about $500 per year on their insurance rates.

He explained that none of the department’s 34 members get paid for the hours they serve, adding that they cover the cost of their gas and other items on their own.

Knox County Judge-Executive J.M. Hall said he is pleased that the department has decided to postpone action on the issue and pursue other funding methods.

“I think this is a good approach they are taking. The community wants to support them, but they don’t want it forced on them on their tax bill,” he said. “I am glad they are trying this approach. Whatever the fiscal court can do to help them, we want to help them.”

Hall said that after news of a possible addition to tax bills broke, his office received numerous calls from concerned property owners, all of who were against having the fee put on their tax bills.

Baker urged all citizens of the area to take an active part in supporting the department. For more information about the department he urged citizens to go to www.westknoxfd.com.
Baker said it is their goal to continue to serve the community as they have for more than four decades.

“We’ve been here 47 years, and we plan on being her for eternity,”
Baker said, adding that their goal is clear. “We’re here to save property, but lives are the main thing.”