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Mon County approves $75,000 for Kawi Fire & Rescue after volunteers report multiple equipment failures; commissioners seek records review
Summary
Following a six‑month update and inventory from Kawi Fire & Rescue volunteers, the county approved a $75,000 appropriation from fund balance to cover urgent repairs and reimburse initial emergency costs; commissioners also directed staff to explore a forensic audit of the previously independent Vernon Town/Iola department records.
The Mon County Board of Commissioners voted 5–0 on April 14 to appropriate $75,000 from fund balance to help Kawi Fire & Rescue complete urgent repairs and reimburse emergency expenditures after volunteers reported inherited equipment and facility deficiencies.
Kawi representatives told the board they had increased membership since a recent takeover and had brought apparatus, turnout gear and fiscal records into county custody, but said much equipment required immediate attention. They reported that two engines failed pump inspection and one needed a new pump ($15,911.47 already paid for one engine; an estimate of about $18,000 was given to repair the other), water infiltration tied to stationary‑system and non‑commercial‑code construction at a substation (repair estimate $26,980.80), dry‑rotted rescue airbags and corroded rescue gear (estimate $13,738.82), and battery‑powered extrication tools that had missed annual service (about $5,500 to replace batteries/complete service). The volunteers said they have spent $52,473.19 to date on major needs and estimated about $109,000 would be required to complete repairs the board and volunteers identified at the time of the presentation.
Commissioners asked how much historic fire‑tax revenue had been collected for the district and staff reported combined county fire tax collections for parts of the district and a Vernon‑district figure as recorded in the county system. One commissioner recommended a forensic audit of Vernon Town/Iola Fire Department records covering the prior three to five years to determine how prior revenues were spent; commissioners asked staff to return with information about scope and cost for such a review.
The board’s $75,000 appropriation passed on a motion that directed staff to reimburse vendors as receipts are submitted and to document expenditures. Commissioners also asked county staff to draft stronger contract language to govern any future mergers or transfers of district operations.
Provenance: Kawi update and the request were presented beginning at "Old business update and request for funds for Kawi Fire and Rescue" (SEG 2200) and the motion/approval appears in the record at the board’s motion and vote at SEG 3047–3066.
Ending: The county will disburse repairs funds as receipts are submitted and staff will follow up on audit‑scope information and proposed contract revisions for future district transfers.
