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And just when you thought it couldn't get worse
Stories abound from all around the nation concerning, cutbacks in staffing, rolling "brownouts" and stations being closed, all due to budget concerns and shortfalls.
One Texas town, Nolanville, has gone the extra step and severed it's ties... with it's own fire department. You read it right. They cut off ALL funding for their own volunteer fire department. In addition, they cut 5 police officer's positions.
This little town of approximately 2150 residents will now have to rely on mutual aid. Their illustrious mayor made the comment; “The Nolanville Fire Department will continue to make their runs.” “And if they can’t, or when they don’t, we have mutual aid agreements with the cities all around us. We are totally covered.” Naturally, the members of the Nolanville Fire Department don't quite see it that way.
Now those of you who aren't familiar with the area, Nolanville is a tiny little town between Belton (the county seat) on Interstate 35, and Killeen which is on the southern end of Fort Hood. Once known as a "speed trap" a few years ago, the Commander at Fort Hood placed the town "Off Limits" to all military personnel and had alternate routes posted for all base personnel to follow to avoid Nolanville.
I'm not sure, but if one reads between the lines, it appears to me that they may have something else afoot, other than a "budget shortfall". Either that or they lost a butt load of ticket revenue.
http://www.texas-fire.com/2009/07/30/nolanville-severs-ties-with-nolanville-fire-department/
One Texas town, Nolanville, has gone the extra step and severed it's ties... with it's own fire department. You read it right. They cut off ALL funding for their own volunteer fire department. In addition, they cut 5 police officer's positions.
This little town of approximately 2150 residents will now have to rely on mutual aid. Their illustrious mayor made the comment; “The Nolanville Fire Department will continue to make their runs.” “And if they can’t, or when they don’t, we have mutual aid agreements with the cities all around us. We are totally covered.” Naturally, the members of the Nolanville Fire Department don't quite see it that way.
Now those of you who aren't familiar with the area, Nolanville is a tiny little town between Belton (the county seat) on Interstate 35, and Killeen which is on the southern end of Fort Hood. Once known as a "speed trap" a few years ago, the Commander at Fort Hood placed the town "Off Limits" to all military personnel and had alternate routes posted for all base personnel to follow to avoid Nolanville.
I'm not sure, but if one reads between the lines, it appears to me that they may have something else afoot, other than a "budget shortfall". Either that or they lost a butt load of ticket revenue.
http://www.texas-fire.com/2009/07/30/nolanville-severs-ties-with-nolanville-fire-department/
Add a Comment
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on August 3, 2009 at 2:40pm
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And if you think that the mayor is worried about it?
He is by all accounts the long lost brother of Alfred E. Newman.
No worry as long as there isn't a problem.
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FETC is correct.
The town over just got an unwelcomed, unfunded mandate from their neighboring fire department.
It isn't a favor if you can't return it.
Or a reasonable facsimile thereof.
Art
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Comment by Paul Montpetit on August 2, 2009 at 7:40pm
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I would go to the voters in the town...Ask them what happened to their homeowners rates when the ISO rating dropped through the floor....The fire insurance (if known about no fire coverage)should have sky rocketed. And I agree...how can it be "mutal aid" if you don't have a department...? By the way "mutal aid" agreements are supposed to be in writting....Bet it isn't....Good Luck.....Paul
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Comment by FETC on August 2, 2009 at 3:35pm
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I would tell the neighboring mayor, sure we will respond but there will be a service standby fee, for about the cost of the budget that they just abolished.
Newsflash - It is NOT mutual aid if you can't offer the services in return.
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