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Rockingham commissioners approve merger of Jacobs Creek and Huntsville fire districts
Summary
The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution on June 2 to merge the Jacobs Creek Fire Service District into the Huntsville Fire Service District, consolidating operations and board representation effective July 1 to address volunteer shortages and maintain response coverage.
The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners voted June 2 to approve a resolution merging the Jacobs Creek Fire Service District into the Huntsville Fire Service District, with the Huntsville district to be the surviving entity effective July 1.
The merger was presented at a public hearing and approved after discussion; no one from the public had pre-registered to speak. County staff said the corporate merger was already approved by the North Carolina Secretary of State and the board’s action creates a single surviving fire district for county purposes.
Melissa (fire marshal), who answered questions during the hearing, said the merged service will operate under the Huntsville Fire Department name, with the original Huntsville station on Sardis Church Road serving as the primary station and the former Jacobs Creek building continuing as a substation. "They will still call 911 and they will be dispatched," Melissa said, describing current dispatch and staffing arrangements.
County staff described recent local outreach: the county mailed more than 3,000 notices about the merger and received 11 calls, none opposing the change. The record provided citizen votes taken at two community meetings: Jacobs Creek reported a vote of 48 in favor and 12 opposed; Huntsville reported 19 in favor and 2 opposed. Huntsville has staffed the Jacobs Creek facility Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., under an operational agreement and has responded with volunteers from both districts; the department said its goal is to staff Jacobs Creek 24 hours a day after building modifications and personnel adjustments.
Board members discussed volunteer recruitment and training requirements as a driver of the merger. Commissioner Richardson said the shortage of volunteers and training-hour demands "drove this train to begin with" and said the merger is intended to provide better protection for the combined service area.
Under the plan, the Huntsville board—currently nine members—will add two representatives from the Jacobs Creek area by appointment, for a temporary total of 11 members until the next annual meeting in October, when board membership will revert to the district’s standard process and any interested individuals may seek seats. County staff said the Jacobs Creek board will appoint the two interim members.
A motion to approve the resolution was made and seconded and the board approved it by voice vote. The public hearing was opened and closed before the vote.
The action is intended to maintain emergency coverage and address volunteer shortages; officials said remaining operational details, including staffing hours and building modifications needed for 24-hour coverage at Jacobs Creek, will be worked out by the department and staff.
