Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

New VFD Will Get Funding

In spite of a decision by the Clark County Quorum Court last week, the Center Ridge Volunteer Fire Department will be funded.

Jim Burns, Clark County's Office of Emergency Services (OES) coordinator, said the court's problem was with the funding formula at it was presented, not with funding the Center Ridge VFD.

Funding for such departments comes from Act 833 monies. These monies, in turn come from the state's insurance turnback fund. Burns said one-half a cent from each dollar paid in fire insurance premiums goes into this account.

Clark County pays in 1.13 percent of this amount, as based on population.

He said the intergovernmental council, composed of the mayors of all incorporated cities in Clark County and the Clark County Judge, along with the county clerk, came up with the formula presented to the court. This formula would have taken a portion of money from each of the VFD's in non- incorporated areas, while leaving those incorporated city's funds alone.

The various fire chiefs contacted their justices of the peace and informed them of their opposition to this formula.

In some counties, the Act 833 money is equally divided among all fire departments in a county.

When the intergovernmental council met, it voted to leave the funding the same for Gurdon and Arkadelphia. Arkadelphia receives 30 percent of the Act 833 monies, while Gurdon's share is 8 percent.

Now, another meeting of the intergovernmental council will have to be called so a more equitable formula can be attained. The meeting will be open to the fire chiefs of the non- incorporated areas, who will be allowed to speak their piece on the matter.

These departments include Alpine, DeGray, Hollywood, Curtis, Kansas Road, Beirne and East Clark County, which covers the communities of JoAnn and Manchester.

Though 62 percent of Act 833 money goes to the rural departments, the fire insurance premiums are higher there than in incorporated areas.

Additionally, according to the population figures, more people live in rural areas in Clark County than in cities and towns.

The incorporated areas, such as Gurdon and Arkadelphia also have a tax base, while the unincorporated regions don't, yet the citizens of these communities shop in the incorporated places.

Burns said the Center Ridge VFD wouldn't be eligible for Act 833 money until the budgeting process begins in October anyway. "We'll have until then to work on it (a new funding formula)," he said.

"This is not the end of the Center Ridge VFD. We just need a new formula. All we want is to see a fair division of the money where everyone will be happy, and I'm working toward this goal. Center Ridge will not be penalized because of this."

Mary Burns, who has been spearheading the drive to get a fire department in the Center Ridge community, said she is confident the department will be funded, once the formula is straightened out and approved.

She said the reason no activity has been occurring on building a new station is because those involved want to be sure of the Act 833 funding first.

"Center Ridge," she said, "is in a corridor where there is no fire protection at all. We're 15 or 20 minutes from the nearest department."

In addition, Center Ridge is primarily made up of senior citizens.

Under state law, the OES coordinator said, Center Ridge's VFD must get part of the 833 money.

Burns said the 833 money must be used to buy equipment for the department. He said fund raisers will help the people in Center Ridge raise the capital for building and construction.