08/16/2022
YOUR Floyd Fire Service
This writing on August 16, 2022, has become necessary to remind all parties concerned with the future of the Floyd Volunteer Fire Department how the fire department was conceived. The fire department was incorporated in 2009 to allow the firefighters an opportunity to develop their vision of a well-trained, well-equipped self-governing organization to serve the citizens of Floyd and the surrounding area. Until that time, the fire department was governed by a district board comprised of representatives of two townships and the City of Floyd - all of whom had different ideas on governing operations. This included cost of operation and how much each entity owned of the equipment at that time – most of which has since been retired or replaced.
In 2009, the firefighters assumed responsibility for providing fire and rescue services that the district previously provided. An informal agreement allowed the non-profit fire service to begin service with the District’s used equipment. At this time the firefighters, through the new corporation, started an aggressive campaign of fundraising and acquiring grants – public and private – to finance its goals. Those included:
-Using government and military lend-lease equipment
-In-house rebuilding and refurbishing of used apparatus
-Training of personnel for ISO Community rating improvement
-Acquiring land and building a modern fire station
-Replacing and updating equipment in a financially responsible way
Recently the informal agreement of 2009 to allow the fire department use of fire district equipment as a start-up venture has become a contentious issue. I propose that instead of fighting over which township or city owns what percentage of this very successful, non-profit corporation that the firefighters have built over the past 13 years that all parties should consider this fire service belongs to the citizens of Floyd and surrounding areas that it serves. The firefighters are merely custodians of the service and that the district’s decision to allow its older equipment to be used as a start-up was a very good investment for their citizens.
As custodians of the citizen’s property, these volunteer firefighters are dedicated to providing financially sound decisions about maintaining fire service readiness and modern fire-fighting equipment with the citizens’ tax dollars and donated contributions. Right now it is being run very efficiently.
One quick point pertaining to financial responsibility – the cost of building a modern fire station in 2012 came to approximately $355,000. At the time of this writing the mortgage pay off on the property is approximately $39,000. This has been accomplished with the citizens’ generous donations from fundraising and gifts. Absolutely no tax dollars were used in the construction or payoff of your new fire station.
I invite everyone to take an interest in your local fire department. Come look for yourself and ask questions. I will personally give anyone a tour on a weekend or evening. I am very proud to be a member of the Floyd Volunteer Fire Department for the past 33 years.
Jerry L. Chatfield
(641) 330-5287
