HANCEVILLE, Ala. – At its meeting Thursday, the Hanceville City Council expressed frustration about unpaid fire dues. The dues, a $13 monthly charge benefiting Hanceville Fire Rescue, are currently not mandatory, but the council is considering changing that – if it can.
“It costs a lot of money to run a full-time fire department,” said Mayor Kenneth Nail. “Advanced Life Support, fire trucks costing half a million dollars. Everybody ought to do their part.”
Nail said volunteer fire departments from the surrounding area are losing volunteers due to lack of interest or incentive, leaving Hanceville Fire Rescue responsible for calls in far reaches of the county. Nail shared concerns about these departments shuttering for good in the future.
“Some of the departments are closing down now,” stated Hanceville Fire Chief Roger Green.
“It’s a crisis situation,” responded Nail.
After being presented with a multiple-page list of those who are not paying dues – which included several large and well-known businesses that call Hanceville home – the council discussed at length the possibility of making fire dues mandatory.
City Attorney Dan Willingham spoke plainly when he said there is no legal precedent to support the council making fire dues mandatory, but he said counties like Jefferson and Coosa have done away with dues and instead implemented a tax.
The council elected to table the matter to allow Willingham more time to research the legal side of the issue.
In other business:
- The council discussed purchasing a 3-acre plot of land close to the city for dumping brush. Currently, the City is paying $450 monthly to dump brush outside of the city.
- The council decided not to purchase a dump truck, given that there was no urgent need to do so.
- The council examined three estimates for a fire extinguishing system for the Hanceville jail, ranging from $11,000 to $16,000.
- The council discussed a possible grant from Homeland Security with Police Chief Joshua Howell; Howell is following up with representatives to see what next steps the City would need to take.
The next regular Hanceville City Council meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, at Hanceville City Hall. The work session begins at 5 p.m. with the meeting called to order at 5:30.
