County commissioners debate volunteer fire department contracts
By Deborah Bennett

Agreeing upon a fire protection contract with the county's volunteer fire departments was a topic of debate at the Tuesday, Nov. 21, meeting of the Jenkins County Commissioners.

County attorney Troy Gay explained that the county must sign a contract for services with all volunteer fire departments and asked for "direction" concerning the contract with North Jenkins County Volunteer Fire Department (NJCVFD).

At the heart of the discussion was a previous request from the NJCVFD that the county contribute $7,800 in matching funds to meet requirements of a federal Homeland Security Grant. The department was recently awarded the grant for the purchase of a tanker truck that will be available for use countywide.

Gay explained that while the county cannot legally "donate" money to a private organization, even a non-profit one, it could grant the request by making it part of the proposed contract. He presented a draft of a contract between the county and the NJCVFD for consideration and asked whether or not to include the monetary request in the contract.

He further explained that the only other way the county could make a donation to the organization would be through a voterapproved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

While the commissioner indicated a willingness to include the monetary request in the proposed contract, concern was expressed that doing so might "open a door" for similar requests from other non-profit organizations operating within the county. Questions also arose

concerning some of the language contained in the proposed contract as it related to use of the tanker truck.

Commissioner Tommy Lane, disturbed over the delay in taking action on the NJCVFD request, made a motion to accept the contract presented by Gay with the inclusion of the $7,800 request and the suggested language amendments.

The motion died for lack of a second.

Commissioner J.C. Douglas then made a motion to table the matter until Gay could draft a second contract with the language corrections and including the monetary request. The commissioners would then consider both contracts and determine which to approve.

The motion passed 3-1 with commissioners James Henry, Douglas and Domingo Green voting in favor and Lane opposing. Commissioner Floyd Chance was absent.

A similar contract must be negotiated between the county and South Jenkins Volunteer Fire Department, Gay noted.

In other matters, members of the newly appointed Airport Advisory Committee met with the commissioners to discuss their role in the operation of the Jenkins County Airport. Committee members are Julie Chance, Don Gay, Mike Head and Thurmon Kent.

Samantha Holton spoke with the group concerning her plans to open an animal rescue shelter and requested that the commissioners draft a letter to be presented to the Department of Agriculture stating that the county has no zoning/land use restrictions. The group agreed to do so and asked that she keep them informed as to how her plans are progressing.