Floyd County supervisors table purchase of UTV-mounted portable pump after liability and training concerns

Floyd County supervisors discussed but ultimately tabled consideration of a UTV-mounted portable pump for public safety after supervisors raised questions about operator training, liability, equipment storage and funding.

County staff presented the pump — described in meeting materials as costing about $15,000 with a possible 50/50 grant match — and said it sprays a water-and-foam mix to extend water effectiveness in confined or crowded festival settings. Public-safety staff described scenarios such as Ford Fest and other events where the pump could be used when a fire truck could not easily access a site.

Supervisors and staff raised several concerns: who would operate the device, whether the county’s non-fire employees have current fire training, whether the pump would be a fire department asset, and where it would be housed and mounted. Staff said the device can be mounted on a UTV or pickup and that it should be placed on a dedicated UTV. Officials noted the county would need either a dedicated UTV or to reassign an existing vehicle and that volunteers would be asked to retrieve it if housed at a different station.

Several supervisors said they feared potential workers’ compensation and liability exposure if non-fire personnel used the device. The board requested additional information on operation, training requirements, exact funding source (county contribution vs. donated gift), and which fire station would house the unit. The board voted to table the item pending further detail and possible email follow-up if the timing requires it.