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County officials don’t accept petitions to consolidate fire districts
The Bourbon County Commissioners spent much of Tuesday morning discussing and hearing complaints about the Garland Fire Department.
Following advice from Justin Meeks, county counselor, commissioners did not take a stance or accept two petitions residents tried to submit. According to Garland Fire District No. 2 resident Tom Applegate, the petitions ask for a consolidation of the Garland Fire District into the Scott Township Fire District.
Others who attended the meeting were Dennis Krom, and Glen and Laura Haigler in the Garland Fire District area and Travis Mehwinney, who is in the Scott Township Fire District area.
Applegate said the petitions were circulated in the area of Scott and Drywood townships which are in the Garland Fire District.
The residents attending the commission meeting said the response from the Garland Fire District has decreased. The Haiglers said their homeowners insurance has increased $100 per six months due to the Insurance Service Office rating, which depends on several factors related to the fire department.
Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks said none of the county officials knew the discussion was going to be about consolidation of the two fire districts and therefore did not have an opportunity to research procedure that needs to be taken.
“However this board, this commission has no authority over any fire district – period,” Meeks said. “I’ve been saying this for three years. Obviously insurance rates and safety issues are important, but this board has nothing to do with it. I cannot state it more strongly than that.”
He said private citizens have options, but the commissioners have no authority.
“You can’t give advice, you can’t give recommendations,” Meeks said.
He said the residents need to hire an attorney to help them through the consolidation process “or read the statutes to figure out how to do it.” Meeks said he also does not have the authority to talk to the residents about the issue.
He later said as county attorney, he does not represent citizens, but handles criminal cases and represents the county commissioners.
Applegate said the townships have spent $20,000 on attorneys to resolve issues with the fire district board.
Meeks said before petitions are submitted to the county clerk to verify addresses of signees, proper procedures need to be taken.
Mehwinney said the day he was circulating the petition, Garland did not respond to a medical call. He asked who taxpayers turn to when they do not get public services they pay for. Meeks said documentation and data could be collected to determine if there is a safety issue.
“This is my concern – people are going to die because they won’t respond to calls,” Mehwinney said. “That is the bottom line.”