Commissioners approve $30,000 for volunteer tanker match and hire new fire services director

Washington County Commissioners on June 16 approved a $30,000 contribution to the Prairie Hill/Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department to help satisfy a local match requirement and additional costs tied to a Texas Forest Service tanker grant. The department representative told the court the grant could fund up to $300,000 of a commercial tanker but the department must provide a local share and expects to combine donations, equipment sales and county support.

The department explained that replacement tankers have risen significantly in cost: the presenter described a previous purchase and said comparable trucks are now priced much higher, with some models reaching $475,000–$500,000. Chief Domin, who spoke for the department during the presentation, summarized the challenge: "Everything's gone up," and said the department sought a more economical tanker (a 2006 Pierce economy model) estimated to cost about $370,000 so it can be placed in service without a long‑term note.

After the funding motion carried on a voice vote, the court also approved a conditional offer and appointment for the county's fire services director. County HR described a candidate with roughly 20 years of progressive fire service and emergency management experience and said the candidate would begin work in October. The transcript reports the candidate's starting salary as "9903" (as stated in the meeting transcript; currency and formatting not specified) and a $10,000 moving stipend to be paid $5,000 upfront and $5,000 after the first payroll. The candidate was identified during the motion as Mr. Carl Wolf.

What remains: the VFD will combine county support with grant funds and private fundraising to complete the purchase and hopes to retire older apparatus and avoid carrying debt; the county will onboard the new fire services director in October and disburse the moving stipend per the conditional offer.