Court recognizes fire-response boundary changes; chiefs to confirm payment timing

Bell County Commissioners Court on Nov. 18 acknowledged changes to fire-response areas among Nolanville Fire Department, Central Bell County Fire & Rescue and Sparta Volunteer Fire Department and discussed how the changes affect county funding formulas tied to coverage miles.

Presiding Judge noted the item had been discussed at a recent workshop and said the county needs accurate coverage-area maps for funding formulas. Commissioners and staff debated whether payments tied to square-mile coverage and "run money" should be effective in the current fiscal year (FY2025) or applied retroactively; staff and some volunteer departments historically treated run money as paid in arrears.

Terry Vassil, who identified himself as a fire chief and the Bell County Fire Chiefs Association secretary‑treasurer, said the association typically pays run money in arrears and recommended polling membership at the group's Dec. 4 meeting. "As the secretary treasurer, I just divide up based on the will of what the membership is and what my understanding of the past has been," Vassil said. He told the court the three affected departments could work with either timing and that he would revisit the matter and resubmit mileage once members had decided.

County staff noted the change in territory is "functionally" complete and recommended adjusting payments so departments are compensated appropriately, but multiple commissioners expressed caution about making changes without the association's clear concurrence. Commissioners agreed the administrative path forward is to have the chiefs' association confirm timing and any needed agreement modifications; if the departments request retroactive payment, the court indicated it could revisit the matter.

A motion to accept the boundary changes and proceed administratively with confirmation of payment timing was made and seconded; the court recorded a voice vote and moved forward.