In response to a fire redistricting plan that includes switching the Vance County Fire Department and the Golden Belt Fire District to a volunteer company, no longer employing a fire chief in the county and moving existing paid staff to work at volunteer departments during the day, County Commissioner Tommy Hester told WIZS News by phone that he has major concerns.

“I don’t think it’s enough of a plan,” Hester said. “I feel you need a fire chief; the way it was proposed, it seems like they want to do away with the fire chief. That’s not a position they need to be doing away with. You need a leadership position. I’ve never heard of not having a fire chief.”

Another concern is the age of the study being quoted. “The study was done 10 years ago in 2008. Ten years ago versus where we are today is entirely different. I feel we need a professional from outside the county to give us their input,” said Hester.

Yet another concern, according to Hester, is that other locations around the state are doing the opposite of what’s currently being proposed in Vance County. Instead of focusing on volunteer efforts, other areas are increasing paid positions in an acknowledgment of the difficulty in recruiting unpaid staff.

Hester emphasized that a lot of hard work has been put into the present plan by the leadership in Vance County, but said he feels more information and research is needed. “I don’t want us moving in the wrong direction not having looked at all of the alternatives.”

It is unknown at this time how much hiring an outside consultant and conducting a study would cost, but Hester essentially makes the point that the price would be worth the knowledge obtained. “The bottom line is the more information you have, the better decision you can make.”

The Vance County Board of Commissioners’ next meeting will be held on Monday, January 7, 2019, at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson.