BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
All eyes were on Brooker during Bradford County’s third fire assessment workshop May 6.
Word came that morning that Brooker’s request for fire department funding would not be in the state’s next budget. The town previously received half of its original funding requests and was counting on the second half to move forward.
Commissioner Diane Andrews said in speaking with Rep. Chuck Brannan, she was embarrassed to learn that it was because no progress was made with the previous allocation that no additional money was awarded.
This led to discussion of how best to proceed but also questions about Brooker’s commitment to help funding firefighting.
No one present seemed to disagree about the need. Fire Chief Ben Carter said response time is 26 minutes from Starke, and even the closest station in Sampson City could take 12 to 14 minutes to get to Brooker.
But once the state funds are exhausted and the new station is built, it must be staffed, and that’s a recurring cost. Carter said two employees would staff each shift at this adaptive response station, ready to respond with an ambulance, fire engine or brush truck, depending upon the nature of the call. With three shifts to cover, that would be a total of six new employees.
While Carter hasn’t built that additional staff into his budget yet, the numbers were included when a consultant calculated the cost of the fire assessment.
While the county commission is not considering fully funding the fire department budget through the fire assessment, it has been looking at 50% cost recovery. That amounts to $167 per residential unit, 11 cents per square foot for nonresidential buildings and $47 for vacant parcels, except for unimproved agricultural parcels, which the state exempts from assessment. Additionally, exemptions are likely for churches and nonprofits, 100% disabled veterans and any household living at or below the poverty level.
Brooker Mayor Gene Melvin has said he has spoken to residents who said the annual fee would be a hardship. He would like the county to start lower, at 25% cost recovery, and raise it over time.
Commissioner Carolyn Spooner said the county had extended its timeline so the municipal boards would have time to vote whether to opt in to their citizens paying the fire assessment. The county hasn’t decided on an amount, so cities don’t know what they are opting into.
Commission Danny Riddick reiterated his support for 50% funding, and while he said Brooker would have a fire station, he said it would be hard to staff it if Brooker doesn’t opt on. Asked by Brooker Councilwoman Breann Garbas if that would be a consequence of opting out, Riddick asked how he could vote to staff it if Brooker won’t help pay the assessment.
Brooker’s population — 322 residents and 146 households according to the 2020 census — might not contribute much to the salaries and benefits of six firefighter-paramedics. But Riddick spoke about what is right for the entire county.
“We have to represent all the people. And I’m not trying to be mean or harsh. I know there’s people with hardships that won’t be able to pay. Ben has opened it up. There’s a telephone number they can call, you know, to take care of it and help them. But I’m just saying. I’m only one vote, but for me, it would be very hard for me to vote to staff a station where they’re not participating in the fire assessment. It would because that’s not right for the, what, 26,000 residents in Bradford County. And again, if we go lower than 50%, we’re going to go broke,” he said.
Chief Deputy Clerk of Court Rachel Rhoden pointed out they had talked about breaking ground on a new fire station without know if an assessment would be in place to help pay for the staffing. She said the county needs to know that Brooker is on board with the assessment.
A commitment from Brooker would convince the county to get started on the fire station, Carter said, since that is what the town was waiting for. There must be mutual agreement, he said.
Brooker’s next meeting and chance to decide is May 13.
With an earlier legislative session beginning in the fall, making fast progress on the station could convince legislators to provide the additional funding for the station, or so the county hopes.
“My desire is that we start as soon as possible with the $500,000 that we have to make sure that they understand that we’re serious about building this fire station,” said Commissioner Andrews, appealing to the rest of the board for support.” I would like to see a foundation. I would like to see walls put up by time they go back in session.”
Carter indicated plans for the station had already been scaled back. Riddick suggested they begin with the living quarters and wait to build a station with bays for the trucks until full funding is secured. A pole barn could be used to keep them partially covered in the meantime. That won’t help the insurance ratings for the town or surrounding area, but it would provide them a faster emergency response.
The county’s first public hearing during which it will set the rate for the fire assessment will be July 1.
RJE summer cap applications
Applications for the Concerned Citizens of Bradford County’s Summer Day Camp are available May 5 through June 5. Applications may be picked up from Starke City Hall, the public library, Meridian and the RJE Complex (Monday and Tuesday, 4-6 p.m. only at RJE). Limited scholarships are available to all who are eligible on a first come, first serve basis.
The camp runs June 9 to July 3 for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. In addition to free breakfast and lunch, there will be math and language labs, arts and crafts, healthy cooking and baking classes, athletics, and more.
Please contact one of the listed CCBC members for more information: Sherry Williams at 352-278-3540, Alica McMillian at 904-966-1100 or Glenda Ruise 904-769-1691.
Farmers, ranchers, producers invited to conservation working group
Calling all Bradford and Union farmers, ranchers and producers. The USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service wants to hear from you. Join Bradford Soil and Water Conservation District and NRCS to provide input on Bradford and Union county funding priorities at the Local Working Group meeting on Wednesday, May 14, at 6 p.m. at the Bradford County Extension Office, 2266 N. Temple Ave. in Starke.
No one knows the community’s needs better than locals attuned to the land, water and natural resources they manage. Agricultural producers, forest landowners, agribusinesses, natural resource managers and anyone interested in conservation practices is invited to provide input.
Local Working Groups help NRCS prioritize natural resource concerns and criteria for conservation activities and programs. All are welcome in-person, and a zoom link is available by emailing [email protected].
