08/14/2025
August 14, 2025
**OFFICIAL STATEMENT**
The phrase "TRUST THE PROCESS", uttered by the County Administrator to us when this process started, now rings hollow and was eerily predictive of things that were to come.
What has been the result?
The Sandy Run Volunteer Fire District is permanently shutdown and Sandy Run no longer has an operational and efficient fire department.
On August 8, the County's Attorney notified us that the County had rescinded their contract offer and would not be using us for emergency services in the Sandy Run area. They also demanded we turn over all trucks and fire equipment under threat of a lawsuit.
They have since indicated they are proceeding with opening up the new Sandy Run fire station building as Calhoun County Red Rock Station 11.
To be clear, the County, under Administrator Richard Hall's leadership, refuses to work with the Sandy Run Fire District, choosing instead to spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to equip the newly built station, and to also build and establish another on the Calhoun County Sandy Run Government property. This is an imprudent and reckless use of public funds. FIRE TAX INCREASES ARE NOW INEVITABLE!
These Decisions Impact Every Taxpayer In Calhoun County. Under The Newly Passed Fire Ordinance, Y'all Are Now Paying For Fire Services Across The Entire County. Remember When People Outside Of Sandy Run Were Complaining That Sandy Run Didn't Pay As Much Fire Tax As Them? Well, Y'all Got Your Wish! Everyone Will All Be Paying The Same Ridiculous Amount Now! Everyone Needs To Remember This When Your County Fire Tax Millage Is Raised From Your Current Rate To 20-30 Mils To Pay For This! Those Are The Folks Who Pushed For And Supported This!
The County Administration obviously prioritizes their own interests over community well-being, choosing instead to gamble with the lives of the Sandy Run community and everyone passing through it. We have been absolutely decimated and destroyed, facing retaliation for advocating for our principles and fighting for everything that we've built over the last 50 years.
This is the direct consequence of fighting a government that is self-serving and tramples on the will of its people.
To the officers and members of all the other remaining fire stations in the County, those of you who lacked courage enough to take a stand for what is truly right, choosing instead to be cowards by adding your names to the petition, based solely on information provided to you by the County Administrator, please take heed and be aware: Being pawns of the County and its Administrator won't benefit you in the long run. This will be your fate as well in the coming years. They've done this to us now and they'll do it to everyone of you too when it benefits them. When it happens to you, we told you so will be the only thing we'll be saying to you.
We are saddened by this end result but remain resilient in our overall, long-term mission to serve the community. The Sandy Run Fire District has a robust plan for the future, which we will share soon.
In the interim, please continue to bombard Administrator Richard Hall (803-456-1252) and Councilwoman Rebecca Bonnette (803-456-9846) with calls to express your opinions and disapproval of the County's plans and actions in our community.
Thank you once again for your support and dedication to us throughout the last 50 years of our service to this community and its wonderful people.
Respectfully submitted,
The Board, Officers and Members of the Sandy Run Fire District
