First responders in Putnam County are relying on the passage of a new fire and rescue service levy this November.
Putnam County Fire Board service administrator Richard Pullin said it's a way to keep up with the demands of the job.
"The growth in the county is starting to level off," Pullin said. "We still fight with insurance and increases throughout all of our operational cost. We're getting to the point where we have to start making decisions. The decision we don't want to make is anything that would jeopardize public safety."
The decision they have made is to switch from the current fire fee to a fire and rescue service levy.
Unlike the fire fee which went off of square feet, the levy would tax the assessed real estate value of your home. The county will then subtract that fire fee you have been paying from the total. Everyone will pay something different.
"You're going to see a lot of citizens that actually save money," Pullin explained. "There will be citizens in the county that will break even, maybe a dollar up and down. Some of the larger homes in the counties will pay more."
This comes at a time when it's difficult to attract and retain volunteer firefighters.
Only two departments in Putnam County have paid members. That's why the county wants to use the majority of this levy money to establish between six to eight paid county firefighters that would go around to different stations in the county, depending on where they are assigned.
Teays Valley is one of those two departments with paid members. Fire Chief John Smoot feels the levy is critical for local fire departments.
"People are not wanting to do this job anymore," Smoot said. "It will continue to allow us to operate how we operate today, and not have a reduction in services."
Additional information on the levy may be found online.
Public meetings about this levy will be held throughout Putnam County at the following locations:
- Monday, Sept. 26 - Republican Women’s Meeting – 6 p.m. – Eleanor Town Hall
- Monday, Oct. 3 – City of Hurricane (City Council Meeting) – 6:30 p.m. – Hurricane Municipal Building
- Monday, Oct. 3 - Town of Buffalo (Town Council Meeting) - 7 p.m. - Buffalo Town Hall
- Thursday, Oct. 6 – Town of Eleanor (Town Council Meeting) – 7:30 p.m. – Eleanor Town Hall
- Monday, Oct. 10 – Town of Poca (Town Council Meeting) – 7:30 p.m. – Poca Town Hall
- Tuesday, Oct. 11 – City of Winfield (City Council Meeting) – 6 p.m. – Winfield Municipal Building
- Tuesday, Oct. 11 – Republican Club – 7 p.m. – Eleanor Town Hall
- Tuesday, Oct. 18 - Fire Board Meeting – 6 p.m. – Bancroft
- Thursday, Oct. 20 – Town of Bancroft (Town Council Meeting) – 7 p.m. – Bancroft Town Hall
- Tuesday, Oct. 25 – Putnam Development Authority – 4:30 p.m. – Area 34 Building