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Supervisors probe volunteer firefighter staffing; county resolution for aging funding remains in state committee
Summary
Supervisors said volunteer fire departments face recruitment and certification challenges leading to consolidations; a Polk County resolution proposing 1.5 cents per capita for aging services that passed the county convention is reported still in a state conflict committee.
Polk County supervisors discussed concerns about volunteer fire department staffing and a county resolution intended to increase aging services funding that is stalled at the state level.
Supervisor Raul Hates and others said some volunteer departments have struggled to maintain certification and staffing. One example cited in the meeting: Folsom Lake reportedly faced certification loss and subsequently combined operations with Centuria and Milltown to ensure coverage. Supervisors said such combinations can cause multiple departments to respond to small incidents, increasing taxpayer cost for each call.
Separately, a board member said they introduced a resolution at the state convention last year asking for an increase in funding for aging services — described in the transcript as “one and a half cent per capita” — and that the resolution passed the county’s state convention slate but remains in a state committee. The speaker said follow‑up with state contacts and aging service leads has been difficult and that fiscal language and final figures are still being confirmed.
Discussion: Supervisors asked for additional outreach to fire chiefs to better understand recruitment barriers and asked staff to follow up on the resolution’s status at the state level.
Ending: The board member who raised the resolution said they will keep supervisors updated as they learn more and encouraged further outreach to emergency services leaders about recruitment and mutual aid arrangements.
