Court approves increase in funding to fire departments
The Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met in its first regular meeting for the new year and approved an increase county funds to each fire department in the Lavaca County Fire Association.
According to County Judge Keith Mudd, each budget season the county places a line item in the budget to help the five fire departments in the county. Mudd said the line item budget for this year is $160 thousand and we have the fire chiefs of the Lavaca County Fire Association to discuss a way to divide the funding among the departments.
Lavaca County EMS assistant chief Tim Decker, who also serves as a spokesman for the LCFDA, explained how the funding is divided among the five departments, including Hallettsville, Shiner, Moulton, Yoakum and Sweet Home fire departments.
“The initial amount is funded to each department,” Decker said. “There is also some that goes toward training and the rest goes out where the county pays each fire department per call.”
Decker said the per call payment has been $100 per call, and the LCFDA has been looking at ways to divide the funding.
“As you know, maintenance on the trucks are not cheap,” Decker said. “Fuel is up and if you blow a tire on a truck it is very costly. So we’re looking at ways to get more of that funding back to the fire departments.”
Decker said, on average, the five departments are called to between 275 to 300 calls in a year.
The court voted to increase the per call payment from $100 to $250 and Mudd said the funding is available.
“The key from our (the court) perspective is to give the tax funding so they (fire departments) can use it,” Mudd said. “We need to get the funding into their hands equally and fairly. We want to treat them all fairly.”
Regarding the burn ban, which was taken off last week, Decker informed the court that due to the recent rains of around two inches over the entire county, the KBDI has dropped 182 points.
“We’re down in the 300’s and yesterday (Sunday) it was 373,” Decker said. “The heat and wind hasn’t taken a lot of moisture out of the soil and should be hanging under this point for a while. We’re well under the burn ban status at this time and we could stay without the burn ban.”
The court took no action on the item.
A third item related to the LCFDA, the court approved a unanimous vote from the five fire chiefs to designate Decker to serve as a non-voting liaison between the association and Commissioners’ Court.
Surplus Property/Vehicle Transfer
The court approved two ambulances to be placed as surplus property.
The two ambulances including a 2019 and 2020 Chevrolet 3500 Metro.
In addition, the court approved transferring a 2020 Ford Explorer from the Lavaca County EMS to the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office.
In other action taken by the court:
• Approved a certificate of exemption from subdivision requirements for Alvigrace Farm and Ranch, LLC.
• Approved an interlocal cooperation agreement between counties and cities associated with Operation Lone Star for Law Enforcement Services.
• Approved the sixth amendment to interlocal cooperation between counties and cities associated with Operation Lone Star for Law Enforcement Services.
• Approved a mutual-aid agreement for Cooperation on Law Enforcement efforts between the Austin County Sheriff’s Office and the LCSO.
• Approved a mutual-aid agreement for Cooperation on Law Enforcement efforts between the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office and the LCSO.
• Approved all consent agenda items.
County Judge Keith Mudd presided over the meeting with commissioners Edward Pustka, Wayne Faircloth, Kenny Siegel and Dennis W. Kocian present for the meeting.