Thursday, April 25, 2024
The Coryell County Commissioners Court approved an interlocal agreement with the Coryell City-Osage Volunteer Fire Department and tabled an item (held off on a vote to consider it on a future agenda) regarding a financial request from the Turnersville Volunteer Fire Department during the April 19 meeting of the Coryell County Commissioners Court.
A representative of the Coryell City-Osage VFD had previously been in touch with county officials asking for help from the county's road and bridge department regarding use of county equipment, materials and manpower.
County Attorney Brandon Belt said he had written up two potential agreements – one of which would have the fire department reimburse the county for fuel expenses. That agreement was the one that commissioners approved.
"It doesn't matter either way to me," Justin Latham, the county road and bridge director, told commissioners before the vote.
The Turnersville VFD has requested county funding to help the department with the building of a brush truck to enhance firefighting capabilities within Coryell County.
"I included this on the agenda, although Turnersville is not in my precinct," said Commissioner Kyle Matthews.
The department had requested $19,451.87 from the county to help with the project.
"To give background, (a representative of the Turnersville VFD) emailed me on March 28 and said they would like the county to help with the building of the brush truck which will help serve the county," said County Judge Roger Miller.
Miller said he had talked to someone with the department who said he would be willing to wait on the county funds. That was based on another request by the county that the state and/or federal government reimburse the county fire departments for expenses incurred in helping fight the Crittenberg Complex fire on the Fort Hood base.
"They have the funds to go ahead and finish (the brush truck), Miller said. "We'll see what reimbursement is available from TDEM (the Texas Department of Emergency Management) and FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency).
"I would rather table it (the Turnersville request) and see how things will turn out with reimbursement," Matthews said. "We're in a drought situation, and it is a mess right now."
Commissioner Daren Moore asked if Turnersville VFD planned to proceed with building the brush truck, and Miller said the department planned to do so.
