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Fayette County commission backs plan for new volunteer fire department and training center
Summary
The commission approved a plan to stand up a Fayette County volunteer fire department and training center to coordinate countywide special-team activities and testing; the fire association will lease the land and equipment will transfer to the new entity.
The Fayette County Commission voted Feb. 6 to approve a plan to establish a countywide volunteer fire department that will operate a training center, house special operations teams and manage shared testing and compliance functions for volunteer departments.
The plan reflects months of discussions about using existing fire-levy funds to sustain a training center currently owned by the Fayette County Firefighter Association, while keeping operations under a quasi-public structure. Under the approved plan, the association will lease the training-center property to the new volunteer fire department for $1 per year on a long-term lease (minimum 99 years), the association will disclaim ownership of the existing building, and the county will transfer building ownership and county-purchased equipment to the new department.
Why it matters: The training center is intended to centralize ladder, pump and fit testing, house swift-water, vertical-rescue and hazmat decontamination teams, and offer coordinated training to volunteer departments across the county. Organizers said the center could also support expanded training for outside teams and bring economic activity through training-related visitors.
Board action: Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to approve the plan as presented; the motion passed by voice vote. The commission directed organizers to work with county staff and Region 4 on next steps, including finalizing a 501(c)(3) for the combined training center/department, pre-approving plan review with the state fire marshal's plans-approval division, and drafting a business plan with NRG RDA to identify grant opportunities and long-term funding.
Next steps and constraints: Organizers will (1) form the departmental board, chief and bylaws; (2) file 501(c)(3) paperwork and meet fire-marshal plan-review requirements; (3) prepare a business plan to pursue grants and generate training revenue; and (4) coordinate with county auditor/treasurer to confirm levy funding rules. County staff flagged a potential requirement from the fire commission or state rules about funding eligibility in covered areas and said that could require a separate county decision on waiving restrictions.
Ending: Commissioners said the plan is intended to supplement existing departments, not replace them, and committed to follow-up budget meetings to define capital and operating needs.
