Representatives of most of the volunteer fire departments in Marion County came before the county board Tuesday night asking for a share of the county’s $7.2-million in COVID relief funds.
Kell Fire Chief Lonnie McDaneld served as spokesperson for the group, noting they often called upon during the pandemic to help those in need of medical help. He says they don’t have many options for funding.
“Those that depend on fundraisers to supplement their income, we are not able to do that because of Covid. Financially detail has limited our ability to ask any increase on our taxes, now fuel prices are skyrocketing, the increasing price on all of our supplies that we have to have.”
All but the Salem and Centralia Fire Protection Districts are all volunteer with Kell running on a budget of just $68,000 a year and Odin at $80,000 a year. Odin Fire Chief Greg Smith says they not only have to fund all operations with the limited budgets, but also purchase extremely expensive new equipment.
Their options are seeking grants or creative financing.
Board Vice Chair Dr. Creighton Engle told the chief’s the ARP money is already committed to projects, but promised to look after the work is done for any leftover funds. County Board Chair Debbie Smith says she also understood their plight.
McDaneld then asked if some money might be available through the county’s quarter cent sales tax to support public safety.
Smith agreed to look at that option as well. McDaneld says the request is not unprecedented as the Jefferson County Board has already agreed to give each of the county’s fire departments more than $300,000 in assistance and financial assistance is also being considered in some neighboring counties.
