Residents Speak Out Against Bridgeport Fire Fee
Posted: Aug 24, 2012 5:37 PM EDTUpdated: Sep 07, 2012 5:37 PM EDT
By Stacy Jacobson, Gilmer, Harrison and Lewis County Reporter
Linda Smith has lived in her Harrison County home, near the Marion and Taylor County lines, for more than 40 years. Smith said her husband helped open the Boothsville Volunteer Fire Department right up the road. But now, she owes the city of Bridgeport $157, supposedly for its fire service.
"We had no idea it was coming," Smith said.
Smith isn't a Bridgeport citizen. That's part of why she doesn't want to pay the fee, she said.
Bridgeport officials said they could charge anyone in their fire department's first due response area. The county commission sided with Smith and other county residents.
"We do not believe it is appropriate for any governmental body to tax people who cannot vote for them," Commissioner Mike Romano said.
From Smith's front yard, the Bridgeport fire department is about eight miles away, while the Boothsville fire department is about two miles away. Smith said Boothsville firefighters never had trouble responding in a timely manner.
"There was a fire right up the holler here. A gentleman lost his business, house and shirt off his back. Boothsville gave him more assistance than Bridgeport did," Smith said.
The group of residents will wait to let the court decide. In November, Judge Thomas Bedell will hear a suit brought by one of the residents in Harrison County circuit court. For now, Smith will keep her checkbook closed.
"I don't feel that I owe it," she said.
So because the lines were poorly drawn no one should pay?
ReplyDeleteThe fire department is a service that needs to be paid for. If say, the Marlinton fire department, is only allowed to respond to the city limits (those who pay) and a house is on fire just over the line I'm sure Norman would lead the charge about what a travesty it was. I understand people not wanting to pay for something that has been free for them but I can't understand people allowing their neighbors donations to carry their weight. Everyone should pay.
As for the people bitter about the loss of a house, I am very sorry for your loss, we do the best we can. We attend training, we donate our family and work time and still sometimes things don't go as we would wish them. Be it wind or ice, or the number of firemen out of town, the distance or the water supply, sometimes we can't save your house. Nothing is more disappointing to us than to spend the night fighting to get a fire out that is a total loss, we do all we can but often it's not enough.
I don't mind paying a few dollars per month for the fire dept. but not to the town. why cant this be done by the cc!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYears ago the FD had fund raisers like a carnival to help raise money. So what happened to that.
ReplyDeleteYears ago the state didn't require mandatory training, equipment, and equipment replacement after a certain amount of time in addition to mountains of records and documentation. Firefighters now don't have the time to work their regular jobs, train as firefighters and function as firefighters while running carnivals and community entertainment. Frankly it's not part of the job and I occasionally have to find time to mow my lawn.
DeleteNobel as it is , its your choice to do so.
DeletePerhaps a paid fd is the answer.
Let's hear it for Commissioner Romano, an official who respects the law! Taxation must be done lawfully. Nobody wants to starve the fire depts, but there are just and lawful ways to raise money for public purposes, and we should insist on them!
ReplyDelete