Friday, April 26, 2024
Turnersville’s Volunteer Fire Department may receive the funds requested from Coryell County to help with building a brush truck, but it will be a few more months until the item can be considered during budget talks.
That was the decision made recently by the Coryell County Commissioners Court, which was following up on an agenda item originally considered in April.
“There was conflicting information, so I asked for it to be put back on (the May 10 commissioners court agenda),” said Commissioner Kyle Matthews.
County Judge Roger Miller said the request was not a regular budget expenditure. Those priorities are set during the budget meetings each year, which typically take place over the summer months and set guidelines for the upcoming fiscal year.
“Is it an emergency?” Miller asked. “If not, then we can address it during budget season.
The Turnersville VFD has requested $19,451.87, which is a portion of what is needed to help complete the building of a new brush truck to supplement both that department’s and Coryell County’s firefighting capabilities.
“We bought the truck, and we are getting ready to start building,” said Turnersville VFD Chief Allan Thompson. He noted that with duties such as helping contain the Fort Hood fire and with fire dangers high because of the exceptional drought conditions, “this will help us get it done.”
He said the vehicle will be an additional truck for the department to rely on.
“We’re asking for that amount from the county, and we’ll fund the rest of it ourselves to build it,” Thompson said.
Based on the current budget, “those funds are not available,” Miller said.
Commissioner Ray Ashby asked if any American Recovery Plan Act funds could be used.
“There are none that were budgeted (for that expense),” Miller said. He noted that more than $470,000 has been budgeted for area fire departments in the current budget, which is distributed in quarterly payments to nine fire departments.
Thompson said he had brought up the funding request “a couple of times in the past” and added, “I don’t think we’re asking too much.”
In other action, the commissioners court gave its seal of approval for the Copperas Cove Fire Department to donate a 2009 truck to the Coryell City-Osage Volunteer Fire Department.
Miller said the county does not own nor pay for insurance or upkeep of the truck.
The commissioners court approved the donation “to help recoup the value of the vehicle, which still provides value and purpose,” Miller said.
Commissioner Matthews noted that both of the fire departments involved were in support of the donation.
