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Surry County sets flat $100,000 base allocation for all 17 volunteer fire departments and offers contracts
Summary
The County Board voted unanimously to offer contracts to all 17 volunteer fire departments, including Franklin and Bannertown, and to amend the funding matrix so each department receives a $100,000 base allocation; commissioners said the change reflects continued support for volunteer emergency services.
The Surry County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 16 to offer contracts to all 17 existing volunteer fire departments and to amend the county funding matrix to set a flat base allocation of $100,000 for each department.
Vice-Chairman Eddie Harris led the discussion, noting public input and the county’s process for evaluating fire protection and volunteerism. The motion to offer contracts to all 17 volunteer departments, including Franklin and Bannertown, and to change the base allocation to a flat $100,000 was made by Vice-Chairman Harris and seconded by Commissioner Melissa Hiatt; the board voted unanimously in favor.
Commissioners said the action reflected the board’s effort to support volunteer fire protection across the county. Commissioner Hiatt congratulated Corbin Soots on his appointment as Fire Chief at Franklin Volunteer Fire Department and noted the new Fire Commission will assist in evaluating and strengthening county fire services.
The minutes record the policy change and contract offers but do not list individual contract terms, implementation timeline or a budget line-item authorizing the new allocation amounts beyond the amended funding matrix. Questions about contract details, allocation timing and whether the change requires additional appropriation were not addressed in the recorded minutes and will likely be handled by county staff and the new Fire Commission.
