Government vs. Volunteer Firemen

Some few years ago, I said that one of the more difficult problems with a Democratic Republic system of government is the fact that we are "free". Elected officials are "free" to make decisions, even if the decisions shows selfishness and immaturity; even maybe a showing of personal internal stupidity.

In the 1950’s and early 1960’s, communities came together forming “volunteer fire departments” to assist themselves and their neighbors to fight fires of homes, other out buildings, fields, and woods, etc. Earlier, individuals were almost helpless fighting fires on their own properties.

Union County has built one of the very best volunteer fire fighting organizations anywhere. With these volunteers, these honorable men and women in their own communities have expanded to ambulance service, to first aid, to first responders, etc.; again helping everyone in need with fire protection, as well as emergency medical services.

For many Union County’s newcomers, prior to the mid 1980’s, the City of Monroe was the only ambulance service with “full-time” medical training in Union County. The Town of Stallings, Waxhaw, and Marshville (Beaver Lane) operated with volunteers with limited medical training, as well. Union County Commissioner Larry Harrington led our local commission to expand the true Emergency Medical Service (EMS) to our volunteer firemen. Then, our emergency medical care of our citizens with the volunteer firemen, as well as our full-time EMS has continued to expand; saving many lives. Dixon Hall, who managed the local Community College system, pressed for and provided many hundreds of medical training volunteer fire students through Union County’s Community College. During this entire time, to my belief and memory, there has been no evidence of misappropriations of private or public funds within our Volunteer Fire Association.

Now, it appears, some elected members of municipalities and our Union County Commission desire to ascertain any and all powers of our countywide volunteer fire departments. Prior to now, our VFD’s have always managed their entire system, and has managed each well. Why do these state and local politicos choose to grab any power from the volunteers whom have “given” hundreds and thousands of hours, as well as their own monies, making their own communities be protected from fires, as well as providing with emergency medical services saving lives?

Union County has a very good current system of property tax financing of seven (.07) cents per one hundred ($100.00) dollars of valuation. This taxing system is equal to all. Landowners with larger properties pay more than those with small properties. Again, it is equal, as the owners for protection of larger homes, other rental homes, other buildings, fields, woodlands, etc. pays more, based on their valuated properties, as their needs for fire protection is more. Some say, under the system, renters pay nothing. Not true. Their cost is all calculated into the rental cost. Each Union County VFD has always been most responsible.

I plead upon all elected members of the NC General Assembly, local county commissioners, and members of local municipalities to allow our fire departments to function at their own will, so long as there are no legal or moral breakdowns within their own communities. Nothing in this current system is broken. There is no need for repair and/or replacement. There are many men and women in our Union County VFDs, who are giving much personally, to protect all. We should all be “Thankful” to one and all. Do not damage or destroy our community volunteer fire association.