Commissioners approve county framework for $700,000 volunteer fire grant; name program for Sen. Phil Berger

The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners approved guidelines June 2 for a county-administered grant program using $700,000 in state funds to support volunteer fire departments and other equipment needs.

Chairman Berger said the funds are part of about $4 million in unspent state allocations; Stokesdale Fire District received $3.2 million for a substation and the remaining $700,000 was allocated to the county for distribution through a local grant program. "This is not tied to the state budget," Berger said in explaining the source and distribution path, and he asked the board to adopt a process for awarding the funds.

Commissioner Hall moved that the county accept the proposed guidelines and name the program the Phil Berger Volunteer Fire Department Grant; Commissioner Richardson seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by voice vote.

County staff described the framework discussed at the budget workshop: departments may apply for funds to purchase needed equipment (the county emphasized the amount is not sufficient to purchase large capital items such as a new engine for a single department), and a county committee will review applications and bring recommendations back to the full board. Suggested committee membership included a commissioner, county manager or staff (Lance Metzler and Derek were mentioned), and emergency services representatives such as Rodney Cates or the fire marshal. The chair said departments will have until June 30 to submit requests; the committee will allow roughly 30 days to review the submissions and return recommendations to the board in early fall.

The board discussed the intent to target funds to departments most in need and to stretch the appropriation across multiple departments where feasible. A motion to form and charge the review committee was discussed and staff said they would proceed with the committee process as presented.