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Volunteer urges county to adopt fire/EMS governing board, highlights smoke-detector and wildfire-mitigation work
Summary
David Bentley told the Fiscal Court the local volunteer fire service has partnered with the American Red Cross on a smoke-detector program, completed wildfire mitigation surveys and is proposing a county ordinance to create a formal fire/EMS governing board; he also urged the county to address unmarked or inoperative fire hydrants.
During the public-comment period, David Bentley described a volunteer effort to continue a smoke-detector program in partnership with the American Red Cross and said the initiative will provide detectors and installation to district residents.
Bentley outlined recent wildfire mitigation work — surveys completed under the Kentucky Division of Forestry and projects planned to cut fire lines and remove hazardous brush — and said additional funding will be used to support local wildfire-mitigation efforts.
He also asked the court to consider adopting an ordinance to create a formal fire/EMS governing body (a fire board or commission) to provide shared governance and resource coordination among local emergency services. Bentley said he will circulate a draft ordinance to the court and local stakeholders in the coming weeks.
Separately, Bentley raised concerns about water and sewer district maintenance, saying multiple hydrants are broken, unmarked or turned off and asking the court to press the utility districts for a list of out-of-service hydrants so firefighters can plan accordingly. The court said it would follow up with the water district and consider attending their meetings.
Bentley concluded by describing a newly outfitted rescue vehicle and staffing/training needs for local water-rescue capability; he asked for support from the court and listeners.
