County approves four-year fire-services contract with Kingston Springs, approves staffing and annual distributions

Cheatham County commissioners approved Aug. 18 a four-year contract with the Town of Kingston Springs to provide fire protection, emergency medical first-responder and rescue services for the Kingston Springs Rural Fire District (July 1, 2025'June 30, 2029).

Under the contract, Cheatham County will pay a service fee to Kingston Springs (year one: $231,781.36) with a 3% annual increase in each subsequent year. The county will also provide $200,000 annually, distributed by the County Fire Chief among Ashland City ($55,000), Kingston Springs ($27,500), Pegram ($27,500), Pleasant View ($55,000) and the county Fire Association ($35,000).

The contract confirms the volunteer status of Town firefighters, says the Town will endeavor to maintain Public Protection Classification where possible, and clarifies that coverage levels may be affected by weather, road conditions or concurrent calls. The agreement includes a separate staffing-reimbursement schedule (monthly caps and annual maximums) intended to incentivize response and training; the county will reimburse monthly upon receipt of documentation.

Commissioners approved the contract by roll call (11 yes, 0 no, 1 absent). The resolution includes terms for payment timing (50 percent due Jan. 15 and 50 percent due March 15 each year), late-payment penalties, and provision for renegotiation or termination subject to notice requirements.

Town and county officials said the approach balances county funding with local volunteer resources to maintain rural coverage; the agreement calls for reporting and audits and allows for renegotiation if county-built stations or other changes occur during the contract term.