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Commissioners approve standard five‑year fire service agreement and require signing by remaining departments
Summary
Board approved the county’s standard five‑year fire and rescue service agreement for volunteer departments and instructed that Piney Grove and Turkey must sign the county’s proposed amendment to continue receiving funding; commissioners rejected creating a special 10¢ default multi‑year rate for those departments.
The Sampson County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s standard five‑year fire and rescue service agreement amendment and voted to forward the standard contract to Piney Grove and Turkey fire departments with the condition that those departments must sign the county template prior to renewal to receive county disbursements.
Background and county recommendation County staff reported that all but two volunteer departments had signed the county’s proposed contract to extend fire service for five years. Piney Grove and Turkey requested a special amended contract that would set their default multi‑year tax rate at 10¢ instead of the county‑proposed default. County staff recommended against creating unequal terms for two departments, arguing that granting one modified rate could prompt other departments to seek similar changes and complicate countywide funding.
Options presented Staff presented three options: (1) do not contract with the two departments and reassign their districts, (2) send the standard county contract to Piney Grove and Turkey for signature (the staff recommendation), or (3) approve a modified agreement setting their rate at 10¢. The county attorney advised the board the county could change tax rates, but staff and several fire chiefs cautioned changes could invite other departments to appeal for the same treatment.
Board action Commissioners voted to pursue option 2: sign and send the county‑proposed amendment to the two departments for their consideration and make county funding contingent on their signing. County staff said that if departments refused to sign, the county could proceed with reassignment steps.
Ending The board also approved contract amendments already submitted by Godwin Falcon and Smith’s Chapel fire departments earlier in the meeting. The county told commissioners it will continue to negotiate remaining matters through the Fire Commission process and the new five‑year contracts.
