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Berkeley County approves cost‑share agreements to add paid firefighters, hires 12 recruits
Summary
The commission approved two call‑sharing agreements with the Berkeley County Fire Service Board to fund additional paid firefighter coverage and voted to hire 12 new firefighters who will begin training in March with a July 1 operational date.
The Berkeley County Commission on Feb. 18 approved two call‑sharing agreements with the Berkeley County Fire Service Board to add paid firefighter coverage at volunteer stations and approved hiring 12 new firefighters, officials said.
Commissioners voted to approve a standing 50% cost‑share agreement that covers nine paid firefighter positions; the commission president had already signed that agreement before the vote. Commissioners also approved a separate agreement under which the Fire Service Board will fully fund three additional firefighters for one year to staff Back Creek Valley; the county will assume those costs in future years if needed.
Deputy County Administrator Chad Weinbrenner told the commission the first agreement restores 24/7 staffing at Hedgersville, Bradenton and South Berkeley to complement the county’s existing fully staffed station. The second agreement responds to a request from Back Creek Valley to provide 24‑hour staffing; the fire board agreed to pay the first‑year costs for three personnel.
Fire Chief Roberts thanked commissioners and the fire board for the agreements and said the county will run a recruit academy ahead of the July 1 operational start. He said the hiring process produced 84 applicants for 12 slots and that the department expects to begin the new hires’ training in March and have them on duty by July 1.
County staff presented the list of 12 names submitted by the fire chiefs for approval: Cody Keefe, Jade Teague, Ashton Shambaugh, Daniel Miller, Andrew Biller, Jesse Bly, Richard Hahn, Garrison Huggins, Roger Bradford II, Eduardo Hernandez, Odie Fritz and Joshua Mills. Commissioners moved and seconded approval of the hires; the motion passed by voice vote.
Chad Weinbrenner told the commission the 12 hires will start March 17 and will be paid an annual rate of $54,227 while they complete training and transition to 24‑hour operations on July 1. Commissioners and the chief described the step as a county milestone, noting officials believe this is the first time Berkeley County will have paid firefighters embedded in volunteer houses on a 24/7 basis and said the arrangement is notable regionally.
Commissioners also approved the administrative steps required to implement the agreements, including a separate motion to accept the cost‑share contract already signed by the commission president. No roll‑call vote record was read into the public minutes; the chair called for voice votes and declared the motions approved.
