By Rupert Howell
Representatives of Panola’s 10 rural fire districts as well as the municipal fire departments met Monday at an emergency meeting of fire chiefs to explain that morning’s decision by Panola Supervisors to accept resignations from two departments’ board of commissioners thereby creating county grading districts and giving administrative duties to Panola County.
Pleasant Grove and Red Hill Fire Department Commissioners had tendered resignations unanimously to allow the county to administer their departments through grading districts as allowed by law.
County Fire Coordinator Daniel Cole, flanked by supervisor board president Cole Flint at the Emergency Management Building in Sardis, explained that little would change in day-to-day operation for the volunteers and emphasized that despite rumors stating otherwise, no department would be forced into making the change. Also present were supervisors Vernice Avant and Donald Phelps.
Although separate entities, rural fire districts receive small amount of millage tax on property within their district, county fire insurance rebate funds split among the districts, and grants. But most, if not all, rural districts depend on local fund raisers.
Lafayette is one of only two Mississippi counties currently operating on a county-wide grading district.
Flint and Cole had earlier explained that there was not a problem with commissioners, but a problem with manpower.
Toward the end of the meeting Cole said that by other districts remaining silent, he would assume they wanted to continue as rural fire districts and asked that any wishing to change to a grading district to contact him.
Pope Fire Chief Charles Cranford, who currently serves as president of county chiefs’ association, told the gathering that his department was definitely interested.
One chief expressed disappointment of not knowing about the proposed transition prior to his board of commissioners resigning, suggesting that another set of commissioners may have wanted to continue the rural fire district.
Cole explained the decision to go the way of grading districts by those boards of commissioners was made for the best interest of the county for the future—”Not what’s best for the district today or tomorrow.”