Some Goliad County residents could face no fire service
City council threatens to cut off runs outside city
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GOLIAD COMMISSIONERS COURT SPECIAL SESSIONS
A special session of the Goliad County Commissioners Court has been scheduled for Wednesday.
At 6 p.m., the court will meet in special session to conduct a public hearing on the proposed 2009-10 budget ...
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GOLIAD COMMISSIONERS COURT SPECIAL SESSIONS
A special session of the Goliad County Commissioners Court has been scheduled for Wednesday.
At 6 p.m., the court will meet in special session to conduct a public hearing on the proposed 2009-10 budget followed by a 6:30 special session for a public hearing on the proposed tax rate.
The court will also set a meeting date for adoption of the budget and to vote on the tax rate.
GOLIAD - The southern and western portions of Goliad County could be without fire service if the city council decides funding from the county is inadequate to cover the costs of making runs outside the city limits.
County commissioners voted Monday to approve a $10,000 payment to the Goliad Volunteer Fire Department in the upcoming 2009-10 budget.
"We're happy to see them move a little bit, but we still don't think it's enough. Ten thousand dollars is a nice gesture, but we really need the county to help out more," said C.J. Snipes, Goliad city administrator.
Snipes said the city spends about $82,000 annually operating the volunteer fire department that has about 31 members. He added that 96 percent of the department's runs are outside the city limits. The city requested $52,926 from the county, based on 65 percent of the fire department's calls being within a 10-mile radius of the city limits.
Snipes added that the last two years, the county has paid nothing to the city for fire service, and in years past had helped pay for some equipment and minimal operating funds, but did not have any exact figures for previous years.
Addressing the commissioners court Monday, Snipes said, "The city is prepared to cease fire service beyond the city limits if the county fails to act in good faith. This cessation of service could come as early as Oct, 1, 2009."
Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez said the request from the city was "arrogant" and the city was "holding the county hostage."
Goliad County Judge Harold Gleinser proposed the $10,000 payment.
"They can respond in every direction. To me $10,000, that may not be what they are looking for, but I think it's a good start. The city has gone above and beyond the call of duty," the judge said. "To me, $10,000 is not very much to start to see where we can go from here."
The county pays the four rural fire departments $10,000 each. Those departments are in Weesatche, Weeser-Ander, Schroeder and Fannin, all north or northeast of the city of Goliad.
After the meeting, city councilman Matt Bochat, who was not allowed to contribute to the commissioners court's discussion because he had not signed a form to request to speak, reacted.
"Disappointment. There are areas in the county that aren't serviced by any rural volunteer fire departments, so I don't know who is going to assist those folks if there is indeed a fire. I don't think they truly understand the liability issues associated with the city deciding we're going to cut off their fire service potentially. We're seriously considering doing that," Bochat said.
The Goliad city council next meets on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Comments
I bet if Councilman Bochat's wife was in an accident in an area of the county that wasn't going to get coverage because the city's call to not serve it, he would change his mind. P.S: Why doesn't the fire chief use his "slush fund" money that most people don't know about? He keeps alot of equipment and money squirreled away and doesn't let most people on to it.
September 16, 2009 at 11:19 p.m.I would be happy to contribute in any way to whatever entity would be coming to my family's aid in case of fire or emergency, however, I don't know who else would come to our aid other than the GFD or the Sheriff's Dept.
It seems as if this dust-up has uncovered a serious issue in emergency services in Goliad County. It never occurred to me that if I dialled 911 in an emergency that no one would respond because we are not in anyone's jurisdiction.
So thank you for informing me. This does give me something to worry about though I can't imagine the good folks in Goliad NOT coming to put out a fire.
September 16, 2009 at 9:37 a.m.I HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE AND EMS FOR 15 YEARS AND IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO SEE THIS HAPPEN, BET IF IT WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO'S DOING THIS IF THEIR HOUSE WAS ON FIRE OR THEIR FAMILY TRAPPED IN A CAR AND NO ONE SHOWED UP THEY WOULD CHANGE THEIR TUNE YOU THINK ????
September 15, 2009 at 4:42 p.m.http://www.orca.state.tx.us/index.php...
Here is the link for emergency service district. Nothing is free in this world.
September 15, 2009 at 4:13 p.m.Everyone needs to realize a few things:
September 15, 2009 at 2:58 p.m.1. Goliad VFD is the main responder on all incidents within the county.
2. County VFD's are short - handed a majority of the time and rely on Goliad VFD.
3. Goliad VFD is short - handed at times and depends on the other agencies.
Teamwork is the answer here. Not only teamwork from all VFD's but teamwork from the City Council and the Commissioners Court.
If memory serves me correctly, Commissioner Pct.2, Jerry Rodriquez was instrumental in discontinuing funding to the Goliad VFD. He even bragged about it at a previous Commissioners Court meeting.
Now, he is quoted as calling the City "arrogant and holding them hostage"....give me a break.
Everyone needs to remember, all of the fine men and women that volunteer for any fire department in the county are the ones who are giving to the community.
If you live in the county, express your concern to your County Commissioner, you did vote for him to speak for you.
I would hate to see the GVFD be limited to responses, it could be catastrophic to all. However, I know the County could pitch in a few more bucks, haven't you ever heard one particular commissioner state, "We have money everywhere."
Good luck Chief Morales, you have always done a fine job.
It looks to me like the county has been slipping by in years past. With Goliad being the main department in the county, they must keep up with new training and equipment to keep thier population safe. Goliad has the capabilities to fight house fires, work wrecks, etc. Most other small departments in the county do not. If Goliad firefighters are cut back to only protecting the city of Goliad then it wont be long before the department cease to exist. In other words, not enough calls to keep new membership interested. Another option is to start a county fire tax(fire district)then there is no question on who should pay what.
September 15, 2009 at 2:34 p.m."mbochat
As a courtesy in year's past, the city has been making 96% of the calls into the county."
Thats usually because those calls are to big for a small department to handle, and most of the countrys VFDs have old out dated equiptment. Schroeder has 1 new truck that was bought with fedral grant money. The county didn't pay for that.
September 15, 2009 at 2:03 p.m.I wish the Goliad paper was online, I believe last weeks addition had what all the pay raises were.
September 15, 2009 at 1:55 p.m.Sounds like the county should take over control of fire service. I mean the city pay's $82,000. The want to charge the county $52,926 and only pay $29,074. The City is always trying to bully everyone, if the can't they make an ordnance to get there way.
September 15, 2009 at 1:44 p.m.It still stands to reason that way more than half of the counties population lives OUTSIDE the city limits. So, of course there are going to be more calls outside of town. I've never heard Alonzo complain about it. It seems there is plenty of money to give raises to people that don't need it and take away from some programs that deserve it.
September 15, 2009 at 1:36 p.m.I am the Councilman in the video for the City of Goliad. I need to clarify a few points.
The city has no obligation (nor never has) ANY obligation to dispatch the city of Goliad VFD personnel and equipment out into the county. We have CITY citizen's that pay city taxes to cover the cost of running the city's volunteer fire department. As a courtesy in year's past, the city has been making 96% of the calls into the county. Our city budget can no longer sustain this operation. You COUNTY residents do pay county taxes and should let your commissioner know that you need county fire coverage for your insurance rates. Also, the city of Goliad has the ONLY JAWS OF LIFE equipment in the county, so if a wreck occurs on any road out in the county, there may be no way to extract the victim if the city decides to eliminate Goliad Fire Service to the county. This is a serious COUNTY issue.
September 15, 2009 at 1:26 p.m.And besides if they would cut back on the raises for SOME of the city employees they would have money. They just posted that Dumbee just got a substantial raise, which I know he didn't earn.
September 15, 2009 at 1:20 p.m.Alot of the equiptment money comes from federal grants, but up keep and some of the training comes out of the county budget.
September 15, 2009 at 1:17 p.m.Fire departments are not cheap doesn't matter if there volunteer or not. I think the county and city have been squeaking by for a long time.
September 15, 2009 at 1:15 p.m.GoliadChica,
September 15, 2009 at 1:08 p.m.At least you heard about it before they did it. Who knows when you would have found out if the city wasn't making a fuss about it.
It's kind of funny that Schroeder has a volunteer department and there is no problem with them making calls.
September 15, 2009 at 10:32 a.m.Excuse me? Those of us who live out in the southern area of the county pay our county taxes too.
September 15, 2009 at 9:11 a.m.If there was a problem, why the heck did it get to "we arent' going to make runs out in the county" before we were informed there was a problem?
Sounds like the City of Goliad is in a financial bind and wants the County to bail them out! Maybe the City just needs to tighten the VOLUNTEER Fire Departments budget!
September 15, 2009 at 8:44 a.m.