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Boonville volunteer fire department contract renewed for another quarter
Summary
After a report showing heavy recent call volume and training, the Yadkin County Board of Commissioners renewed the Boonville Community Volunteer Fire Departmentquarterly contract, noting equipment needs and available grant funds.
The Yadkin County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 5 renewed the quarterly contract with the Boonville Community Volunteer Fire Department after Chief Randy Renegar reported the departmenthad responded to 176 calls as of Dec. 31 and that volunteers logged substantial recent training.
Chief Renegar told the board that from October through December members recorded 1,354 hours of training and volunteers contributed 837.8 hours of station time, including daytime coverage; he said the department now has three paid staff and numerous volunteers. "It is pretty amazing for a volunteer fire department to have that many training hours in such a short amount of time," Renegar said.
Renegar outlined equipment needs: tires across almost all trucks estimated at $18,799.49 and replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus (air packs) that the department said are approaching 20 years old. He said the department is partnering with another department to apply for FEMA AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant) funding and that, together, the cost of required air packs would exceed $500,000.00; he added the department has access to remaining SAFER grant funds awarded under an earlier administration, noting about $245,000 remains from an original SAFER award of roughly $329,000 for recruitment and retention. "Our members are putting in a lot of hours and are working hard and are doing everything they can to get the trucks ready and keep them running," Renegar said.
Commissioner Tim Parks moved to renew the quarterly contract; Commissioner Ricky Oliver seconded. The Board approved the motion on a 5-0 vote.
The renewal returns oversight to the county for another quarter and preserves the departmentaccess to county funding; County Manager Michael Silverman confirmed the county provides $73,738.75 to the department each quarter, and Chief Renegar said regular paid staff salaries are included in the department's county-funded budget request. The board did not amend the contract terms at the meeting.
The Board indicated support for the departmentand several commissioners praised the volunteer and paid members for their training and response activity. The county will continue to work with the department on grant applications and equipment priorities in the coming months.
