Public hearing on Andersonville Fire subscription plan draws huge crowd

Information from WYSH Radio

An overflow crowd of Andersonville residents unhappy about the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department’s subscription plan jammed the hallways on the third floor of the Anderson County Courthouse on Monday to express their anger and frustration over the new fees scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1.

The fire department says it needs an increase in revenue or it will have to close its doors. But many citizens call the subscription plan “extortion.”

Earlier this year, the department’s board of directors voted to implement the plan after donations continued to lag far behind budgetary needs.

However, many people were upset by the tone of the first letter sent by the AVFD in October that informed them of the proposed fee service. Many said the letter was threatening and heavy-handed.

Eighteen residents spoke during Monday’s meeting, and another overriding theme was the need for a change in leadership at the AVFD and more public input on the department’s operations.

The public hearing was held by the Anderson County Commission’s Operations Committee. While there is nothing the county can do legally to stop the subscription plan, commissioners say they are ready to examine the issue of funding all the county’s volunteer fire departments to avoid situations like this in the future.

A proposal has been made to create an ad hoc committee made up of eight commissioners and possibly citizens to come up with solutions. The Anderson County Commission’s Budget Committee has been asked to look into finding a way to increase funding for all the county’s volunteer fire departments using money from the replenished general fund balance.

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