Brandon Volunteer Fire Department
March 10th, 2008 by 
Alica
For the moment, anyway, the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department has stopped getting signatures on a petition to bring a possible fire tax district to a vote of the people. Instead, BVFD fire chief Greg Lacey said the department is going to try to renegotiate their contract with the city.
Either way, the department needs more money, fire department members say. Right now, the department’s budget takes care of their day-to-day needs but doesn’t let them set aside enough money each year to let them replace trucks in a timely manner.
Lacey said Dennis Olson, city administrator, has been helping him look into the possibility of leasing trucks, which apparently would cost much less than buying.
The department is going to show a proposal to the city council on Thursday during the council’s briefing meeting. The department will formally make a request for more money, and other collaborations, at the council’s regular meeting on Monday.
What do you think about this new twist in the fire department’s plans? Should they have continued getting signatuers, or is it good that they’re working with the city? What do you think about leasing fire trucks instead of buying them? Is that a good solution, bad, or is it pretty much a wash?
A story today on www.brandoninfo.com goes into a little more detail about the topic.
Posted in Uncategorized | 
March 10th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
I think it would be helpful to know exacty what the BVFD is looking for - short and long term (trucks, day-to-day operations, etc.). I, as a citizen of Brandon, do not have a working knowledge of what they currently have or what they need. It is much easier to support something if there is a plan versus just giving money away to an uncertain need.
I think if they came up with a written plan and SHARED it with the CITIZENS of Brandon, they would get the support easily. It will much more difficult if they just request money without sharing what they will use it for…..So far, I haven’t heard anything more than they need money without any explanation of what the money is for.
A question for the BVFD, do you have a website? If so, this would be a GREAT place to share your info.
I personally (along with MOST other Brandon residents) just assume the BVFD will be there when I need them. I would like to be there for them when they need me. Just help to keep the citizens informed.
THANK YOU BVFD!
March 10th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Fire protection is an inherent government function. Because Brandon is quickly becoming one of the state’s larger cities, maybe it’s time that the city took over the responsibility of fire protection. The BVFD could sell the trucks to the city for $1, and the city could take over the fire hall and hire a chief, provide the insurance, workers comp, etc. The volunteers could still be fire fighters, but let the city run the service. I wonder why this hasn’t been considered? Is the BVFD a sacred cow? Is it preserving tradition for tradition’s sake? What are the pros/cons of the city taking over?
March 10th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
In the conversations I’ve had with fire department officials, city administration and city council members, my understanding is that the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department prefers to continue being a separate entity.
To my knowledge, the city can’t force the department to become a city department.
The way our city is growing, it seems likely that at some point, the city will have to have a paid fire department, or at least one or more paid staff with the rest being volunteers. Here are some questions that occur to me:
Is now a good time for the city to have a paid fire chief? If not now, when? Is a 100 percent volunteer department still “good enough” when the city reaches 10,000 population? 12,000? 15,000?
Do we need to plan ahead for when a paid fire chief or staff is necessary, or do we just keep reviewing growth and react when everyone agrees the time is right?
What if the city and the volunteer fire department don’t agree on when the time is right? Whose opinion should take priority?
March 10th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I agree that the FD doesn’t want to join the city (yet they want more money from them) I’d like to know specifically WHY they don’t want to be.
If the city is going to give them more money doen’t they have the right to view their budget and books? And as tax paying citizens do we then have a right to know who and how the money is spend??
March 12th, 2008 at 11:43 am
The BVFD is a volunteer organizations that is contracting with the city and the rural area that is serves.
I feel that they should be treated as such.
If it is in financial trouble, maybe they need to restructure and come under the control of city government as most fire departments are.