Although no discussion was held during the Calhoun County Commission meeting on Monday, August 8 regarding the letter from Arnoldsburg Fire Department Chief Joe Tanner, requesting that the Fire Department’s share of the emergency levy be changed, Commissioners have set a meeting for the purpose of changing the Levy. The levy changes are required to be done before the print deadline of August 18th.
While the Commissioners had said in their meeting, they would meet to discuss the matter with Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department and Upper West Fork Volunteer Fire Department, no meetings were held, nor were the Fire Department members contacted regarding the planned changes.
The Emergency service Levy failed in the Primary Election, and it continues to be a question with regard to the ability of it to pass in the fall. Chief Tanner is requesting that the Fire Department portion of the levy be split equally between the three departments. Which on the surface would appear fair, until you go back to the original reasoning behind the 50/25/25 split.
At one point the only two Fire Departments in the County were Grantsville and the Upper West Fork, each covering half of the county. But then Arnoldsburg created a Department of their own and the West Fork area was split in two districts between those departments, still leaving the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department covering a greater portion of the county from the county lines of Gilmer, Ritchie and Wirt to the area of Sinking Springs, Mt. Zion.
Ridgeview News sent two requests for information this morning but have yet to receive either to allow more facts to be shared with the community. I requested a copy of the Emergency Service Levy from the Calhoun County Clerk, and I requested a ( SEE BELOW) copy of the total runs for each Fire Department for the past year from the OES Director, Julie Sears. Should that information be received, it will run later today.
From OES
CALHOUN COUNTY SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
Friday, August 12, 2022
3:30 p.m.
AGENDA
MEETING ALSO BY ZOOM
Meeting #5936021621 Password 1234
Participate by Phone: +13126266799 or +19292056099 (Both Numbers are Toll Free)
I. Pledge of Allegiance:
II. Emergency Services Levy Call and Order:
III. Personnel: Cody Parsons
VI. Executive Session:
VII. Adjournment – Next Meeting: Monday, September 12, 2022
