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Volunteer fire department asks Surry County for $50,000 to buy electronic sign, make building repairs
Summary
Representatives from Black Plains Volunteer Fire Department asked the Board of Commissioners for $50,000 in county funding to buy an electronic message sign and perform building repairs; they said the sign could help lower the ISO rating and improve insurance outcomes for community homeowners.
Representatives of Black Plains Volunteer Fire Department asked the Surry County Board of Commissioners on May 19 for $50,000 to buy an electronic message sign and pay for building maintenance, including repairs to a training-room floor and an air compressor.
The speaker, identifying himself in the public comment period as Patrick Olin and saying he was accompanied by Captain Joe Parker, said the department has an active training program and recent membership gains and that the requested funds "will stay in the county" for purchases. "We're asking for $50,000 that will go towards a major purchase on an electronic message sign to replace our current static board, and then some building improvements," the commenter said.
The department said an electronic message sign could help the community's ISO rating; the speaker said that could move the rating from a 9 down to a 7 or 8, which affects homeowner insurance rates. The speaker also described recent call activity and a local tractor-trailer crash response, and he thanked county officials for past support.
Board members thanked the speaker for service; no formal appropriation or motion to award funds was made during the May 19 meeting. The request was presented during the board's open forum, which the chair opened for three-minute public comments.
Why it matters: Volunteer fire departments often rely on local funding for equipment and facility maintenance; the department linked the sign purchase to improved fire-protection metrics that the speaker said can affect homeowners' insurance costs.
No decision was recorded on May 19. The department said it had quotes and planned to purchase within the county if funding is provided. The board did not schedule a specific follow-up vote during the meeting, though commissioners thanked the speakers and closed the open forum after several comments.
