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Commissioners table proposal to cancel volunteer fire department fuel cards after extended debate
Summary
Mills County commissioners debated canceling fuel cards for the Gold Lake/Goldblatt volunteer fire department, citing administrative, cash-flow and operational concerns; after discussion the court voted to table the item for follow-up meetings with the VFD.
Commissioners spent substantial time discussing a proposal to cancel fuel cards used by a volunteer fire department (referred to in the record variously as "Goldblight/Goldblatt/Gold Lake VFD") effective Aug. 31, 2026. Staff and several commissioners warned that removing cards without a transition plan could force the department to find new arrangements or face interim cash-flow problems, and urged discussions with the VFD before acting.
One participant urged the court not to lose sight of volunteer contributions: "When we talk about the kind of service that they give, the hard work that they go to to appropriate all of the things that they have out there, all of those initiatives are on them," the speaker said, urging a solution that preserves the department's response capacity. Staff explained billing cycles and timing of county checks, saying some charges posted in late August would not be paid until the next budget cycle in October.
After back-and-forth on administrative options and whether to cut cards immediately or allow time to transition, a commissioner moved to table the proposal to allow court members to meet with the volunteer fire department and report back at the next budget meeting; the motion passed by voice vote.
