Vance County Fire Dept. to Operate As Is Pending Further Board Discussion
After much discussion at Monday night’s Vance County Board of Commissioners’ meeting, the general consensus was that even more discussion is needed before moving ahead with fire redistricting plans.
The Board voted to table a decision on redistricting plans pending a work session for further discussion that would be open to the public. A date and time for the session will be announced once confirmed.
The proposed plan, as presented by the Fire Commission, included, in part, converting the Vance County Fire Department into a volunteer department with some paid personnel and designating the Golden Belt Fire District it serves as a volunteer district.
Much of the discussion from the dozen or so people who spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting focused on the plans for the Vance County Fire Department.
Hartwell Wright and John Bunch, the first two public speakers, expressed opposition to the plan as proposed. Wright questioned the necessity of changes needed to a department that he believes is working as is and Bunch, while conceding that there are good points to the plan, urged for further consideration and study.
Concerned citizens Phyllis Stainback, Tim Jenks and Bill Edwards also spoke against the plan.
John Watkins and Bryan Yount spoke next in support of the redistricting as proposed and said what mattered to them was the reduced response time offered by the plan. Yount further elaborated that the proposal was fair and would spread ISO – insurance ratings – more equally throughout the county. The details of how ISO ratings would be affected if proposed changes were made is unclear at this point.
Deborah Brown, former commissioner and school board member, spoke in favor of the proposal and stated that the plan could be implemented in phases to allow for an adjustment period.
The Vance County Fire Department was represented by Mark Pitzing, Brian Williams and Chief Chris Wright who spoke against the proposal stating that the change to a volunteer department would be a step backward and would negatively affect the current guaranteed response time.
A concern with the national trend of decreased volunteerism in a time when call volumes are increasing was also expressed.
Wright, fire chief of Vance County since 2015, told the commissioners that the Golden Belt Fire District requires a 24-hour service and should not be compared with volunteer districts.
Wright stated that the Golden Belt’s service area includes 123 businesses and the larger of the Vance County schools, including Vance County Middle School and Vance County High School, making the district unique in their needs.
County Manager Jordan McMillen agreed that the current proposal works from a financial standpoint but does not address a number of details and concerns.
Chief among the concerns, according to McMillen, is the need for 24/7 coverage in the Golden Belt; the instability of a system that could fail to function if all positions are not filled at all times; the fact that the Vance County Fire Department acts as a backstop for all other departments; and the uncertainty of what happens to the fire chief position under the proposed plan.
McMillen said the most current fire study, completed in 2008, called for increased funding and part-time help, measures that have already been put in place to some extent. However, McMillen said moving forward with more cost-saving measures in the future may be accomplished in ways other than splitting up the Vance County Fire Department.
In concern of the age of the previous fire study, Commissioner Tommy Hester proposed that an updated, independent study be conducted. Commissioner Leo Kelly seconded the motion. With a vote of 4 against and 3 in favor, the proposal did not pass.
The next step for the Board will be to discuss the fire redistricting plan in an upcoming work session open to the public for observation but not for commenting.
Board Chair Archie Taylor declared that the Vance County Fire Department and Golden Belt Fire District will operate as is pending the outcome of the work session.
Sheriff Curtis Brame Visits New Hope Elementary School
-Information courtesy New Hope Elementary School’s “The Cat’s Meow” Newsletter
Sheriff Curtis Brame recently visited New Hope Elementary School as part of his efforts to connect with all citizens of Vance County through rapport building.
During his visit, Brame made honorary deputies out of students, passed out high-fives, encouraged students to do well in school and be aware of their surroundings, described his own experiences as a youth and met with school staff and parents.
Sheriff Curtis Brame “high-fives” students for giving correct answers at New Hope Elementary School. (Photo Credit: Dr. Harold Thompson)
Sheriff Curtis Brame met Commissioner Carolyn Faines serving on duty in the New Hope Elementary School Cafeteria. (Photo Credit: Dr. Harold Thompson)
Open Burn Ordinance Unanimously Adopted by Vance Co. Commissioners
The Vance County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted an open burn ordinance as presented by County Fire Marshal Keith Duncan at their Monday night meeting.
The purpose of this ordinance is to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the County by regulating the air pollution and fire hazards associated with open and outdoor burnings.
This ordinance applies to all outdoor burning and open burning within the County, except as otherwise specifically provided. This ordinance does not apply to the following:
- Outdoor grilling or cooking food using charcoal, clean wood, propane or natural gas in cooking or grilling appliances;
- Burning for the purpose of generating heat in a stove, furnace, fireplace or other heating devices within a building used for human or animal habitation;
- The use of propane, acetylene, natural gas, gasoline, or kerosene in a device intended for heating construction or maintenance activities;
- Burning pursuant to or in accordance with a validly issued burning permit from a federal or state department or entity.
According to the ordinance, open burning of grass clippings, leaves, logs, brush, and stumps is allowed in the county in accordance with all of the following provisions so long as materials originate from the lot in which they are burned:
- Bonfires require a written permit to be issued by the Fire Marshal in accordance with the NC Fire Code and must be obtained prior to open burning under this section.
- Campfires shall not be conducted within 25 feet of a structure or combustible material.
- Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.
- The location for allowed open burning shall not be less than 50 feet from any structure, and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 50 feet of any structure.
Exceptions to this include the following:
- Fires in approved containers shall not be less than 15 feet from a structure.
- Fires with a pile size of 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet or less in height shall not be less than 25 feet from a structure.
- Safety – All allowed open burnings shall be conducted in a safe, nuisance-free manner when wind and weather conditions minimize adverse effects and do not create a health hazard or visibility hazard on roadways, railroads, or airfields. Open burning shall be conducted in accordance with all local and state fire protection regulations.
- Supervision – All allowed open burnings shall be constantly attended and supervised by at least one (1) competent person of at least eighteen (18) years of age until the fire is extinguished. The competent person shall have readily available for use such fire extinguishing materials or equipment as may be necessary for the total control and extinguishing of the fire.
- Burn Ban – Except for barbecue, gas, and charcoal grills, no open burning shall be undertaken when the State has issued a burning ban for Vance County.
A person utilizing or maintaining an outdoor fire will be responsible for all fire suppression costs and any other liability from damage caused by the fire.
The Fire Marshal or his designee, or the Sheriff or his designee, are authorized to enforce this ordinance, inspect any property for the purpose of ascertaining compliance with the provisions of this ordinance and order fires in violation of this ordinance to be extinguished.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance may be fined by a penalty or combination of penalties according to the severity of the offense.
The first violation shall result in a warning citation for a probation period of one year. The violator will be educated on the ordinance and given proper education materials for reference.
The second violation within a consecutive 12-month period shall result in a fine of $50.
The third violation, or any violation subsequent to the third violation, within a consecutive 12-month period, shall result in a mandatory fine of $500.
‘Worship Without Walls’ at MLK, Jr. Day Community Event
-Information and flyer courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center
Worship Without Walls – Come out and enjoy Adopt-A-Park activities sponsored by Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church! The worship service will be held at Chestnut St. Park located at 745 N. Chestnut Street on Sunday, January 20, 2019, at 11 a.m.
For more information, please contact Charles Turrentine, Jr. at (252) 204-9334 or cturrentinejr@gmail.com.
