Tazewell County Board adopts ordinance to reorganize fire services after lengthy debate and amendments

The Tazewell County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 2 adopted an ordinance to reorganize county fire services into a unified Tazewell County Fire Department, approving amendments intended to protect local stations and to improve the county’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification.

The action followed more than three hours of public comment and debate that centered on whether the consolidation could change ISO ratings — a factor that affects homeowners’ insurance premiums — and whether volunteer stations would keep equipment and locations. Eric Weitzel, speaking for local insurance interests, urged the board to submit the draft ordinance to ISO before final adoption, saying it should include as an explicit goal “an improvement of our public protection class assignment” and warning that ISO will reevaluate classifications after structural changes. “I would encourage you all to direct the county administrator … to submit the ordinance to ISO and find out what they say will be the effect on our classification,” Weitzel said.

County administrators and supporters of the plan said the ordinance is intended to strengthen grant eligibility, centralize administrative record‑keeping and purchasing, and preserve local stations. County Administrator Young told the board that the districts and volunteer stations are not intended to be closed and that leases or use agreements with legacy departments would be negotiated to preserve local facilities and apparatus. “We can also procure things in larger bundles, larger volumes, hopefully get a better price on it,” Young said, framing the proposal as a way to expand access to state and federal grants that smaller volunteer companies cannot pursue alone.

Several volunteer members and residents told the board they worry the change could hasten the loss of volunteers and leave some rural areas with reduced local capacity. Elizabeth Bennett, a Thompson Valley resident and volunteer, said she feared the county was “hurrying with an ordinance” and urged more time for a rural‑specific plan. Fred Harmon, another resident, said prior board decisions already had affected ISO classifications in some areas and asked for clearer funding and operational details.

In response, the board approved a package of amendments before adopting the ordinance. Key changes read into the record and approved by motion include: - adding a recital stating the board’s goal to improve the county’s ISO rating; - clarifying article language to authorize the county administrator to establish fire stations for the county fire department while requiring the Tazewell County Fire Company (TCFC) to maintain a station in each fire district; - directing the county administrator, with advice and consent of the Fire Chiefs Association, to present proposed bylaws amendments (including financial controls and officer signatures) and a recommended method for selecting an administrative fire chief by March 8, 2026; and - adding an annual review provision requiring the board, county administrator and Fire Chiefs Association to review the ordinance and bylaws.

The motion to adopt the ordinance as amended was made by Supervisor Robotnik and seconded by Supervisor Presley; the motion carried and the chair announced that a single recorded dissent was noted. The board also directed staff to transmit the adopted ordinance to ISO for review and scheduled a recessed meeting for Dec. 15 at 3:00 p.m. to consider any ISO feedback.

Chief Brooks, the county’s fire and EMS director, told the board staff had already been in contact with ISO and that the reorganization could help by presenting collective call volumes, personnel counts and training levels when seeking a county‑wide reassessment. “This would give us the benefit that … it shows that we have it collectively as one agency,” Brooks said.

What happens next: the county will send the adopted ordinance to ISO for review, staff will negotiate leases or use agreements with legacy departments that own stations or apparatus, and the board will reconvene in mid‑December to review any ISO feedback and consider additional amendments if needed.