BY MELISSA PYLE
Special to the Telegraph
There was much anticipation surrounding Lawtey’s June council meeting due to recent news the county could consider removing the personnel and trucks from the Lawtey Fire Department if the council couldn’t come to an agreement with the county on its special assessment.
County Commissioner Carolyn Spooner addressed the council and the public to assure them that the county wants everyone to work together for the betterment of Bradford. She was open to any questions about the proposed fire assessment and offered her input throughout the meeting.
Councilman Joshua Bell took the floor to address Bradford Fire Rescue Chief Ben Carter over the fire assessment. Bell asked how it is not double taxing the city’s residents to add a fee if they’re already paying taxes to the city. Carter responded by saying it’s a valid argument when people outside the city limits will only be paying one assessment to the county. Bell was not the only council member to have questions for Carter and Spooner over the fire assessment fees.
Members were frustrated over what they felt was a poor portrayal of the city in a recent commission meeting and a sense they were being given an unfair ultimatum. Councilwoman Amy Blom took issue with the statement that “Lawtey was just a building”. Blom addressed Carter and said “We don’t have just a building” as she proceeded to share the financial costs the city of Lawtey has spent for the department.
Since February 2020, the city has paid out over $101,000 for the fire department. Blom said things such as new appliances and flooring were also paid for by the city and weren’t included in the $101,000 figure. The city still has the fire department in its budget and pays for all utilities associated with the station and some repairs. Lawtey also gifted a truck to the county, but the vehicle requires $50k in repairs.
Blom said it is not fair for residents within the city limits to have to pay three taxes. Explaining part of the residents’ county tax bill goes to the fire department, part of the city taxes go to the fire department, and now a fire assessment would be a third way residents would be taxed.
Chief Carter responded to Blom by clarifying that his statement about Lawtey being “just a building” wasn’t meant to demean the city’s contributions to the fire department. He said it was in response to the question, “What equipment does Lawtey have?” and explained that the city doesn’t own the equipment, just the building
“It was not my intent to say that Lawtey does not contribute to the fire department. You certainly do. It’s been a great partnership,” he said.
Carter went on to remind the council that prior to the county taking over the station, they were still paying bills associated with the station when it was an all-volunteer station, but he says he does see the points about double taxation on city residents.
Assessing financial and safety costs
Blom expressed her frustration with the delay memorandum of understanding between the city and county and the assessment, but said it was due to the council awaiting more information from the county on the final numbers. Blom asked if there was time to review a new MOU in which the city no longer pays for the utilities and repairs associated with the station.
City attorney Dan Sikes requested time from the mayor to question the chief about the repercussions of the city not signing the fire assessment agreement. Sikes asked, “What’s the penalty if we don’t sign it?”
Carter said that the commission could move the resources to Heilbronn Springs. Sikes said, “That would effectively remove any fire protection from the north end of the county … because we [the city] defied the county?” Sikes also asked if the citizens of Heilbronn Springs would be paying more than the city of Lawtey in fees.
Carter said no, the argument is for the city of Lawtey to opt in to the fees. All county residents will receive the fire assessment bill, but if the city opts out, the residents within city limits will not be paying those fees. Sikes said it seems that the county would be “punishing the city,’ and by default punishing the residents in north Bradford who would not have fire or emergency services within a safe distance.
Spooner interjected and said the county does not want Lawtey to lose fire services and their intent is to work together to resolve the problem. She suggested the council members have an emergency meeting with the chief to address the MOU and make adjustments.
Council member Virginia Warner stressed the dire consequences of not having a fire department, one of which is obtaining and retaining homeowners’ insurance. Councilwoman Debra Norman expressed deep concerns over the human toll. She said the sheer volume of traffic on U.S. 301 calls for an emergency response team to be in proximity in case of wrecks. Another example of the human cost was the proximity of the station to the school and the prison, both needing fire and emergency services.
Norman shared that many citizens have told her they can’t afford another expense in their budget. Spooner responded by explaining there will be ways to assist citizens and if someone is below the poverty line, they will not have to pay.
Ultimately, the council voted to hold an emergency meeting on June 16 to rework the existing MOU to state the city will no longer pay the station’s utilities or repairs in exchange for the city opting into the county’s proposed assessment fee of $167 per year, per household. (This amount has yet to be finalized.) This will remove the double dipping council members felt the city’s residents would be facing if adjustments are not made and will ensure the station in Lawtey stays open.
The timing of the last-minute agreement was even more celebratory when Chief Carter presented the city with one of the new engines acquired by the county through state appropriations. Carter said the new engines come at no cost to the county and one will be going to the Lawtey station.
