Commissioners hold heated fire talk

Wednesday, November 23. 2011

Some people are receiving fire services but are not paying taxes and the Jackson County Board of Commissioners had a heated discussion Monday night on how to address this.

Commissioner Bruce Yates asked county staff in October to look into the Jefferson area residents who are receiving fire service but not being taxed. At the BOC meeting Monday night, interim county manager Leonard Myers presented three options on addressing this.

Commissioner Tom Crow said Jefferson leaders have been approached about this several times over the past 10 years and have not been interested in taxing the area.

“They know how to ask if they want it,” Crow said. “They have been asked and they have consistently said no…I still support it. I do think this was done to try and embarrass me because I’m one of the people who have some property that is not being taxed.”

Yates responded: “It’s insignificant to me that you are one of the people. It’s important that all citizens are taxed equally. If Jefferson doesn’t want the money, we can keep it.”

BOC chairman Hunter Bicknell said that he would discuss the issue with Jefferson leaders and report back to the commissioners.

“I think it is an issue for the City of Jefferson to address and resolve,” Bicknell said. “I will be more than happy to approach the mayor and see if they have changed their mind and see if they are interested in receiving the funding…They need to determine if they want to collect a tax from the people they are serving.”

Commissioner Dwain Smith made a motion to table action on the issue until the county receives more information from Jefferson. The motion passed unanimously.

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#1 better idea on 11/23/11 at 06:13 AM [Reply]

Why don't you upgrade are fire services so each dept has paid staff during the day ? Several depts have done this already.

If we are going to pay taxs for Fire service then we need to improve the service we already have.

Jackson is out growing are volunteer fore depts. They do a great job but at some point we must move forward.

Might be time to look at 1 central fire dept with 1 chief.

#1.1 Well Duh? on 11/23/11 at 08:47 AM [Reply]

If we had 1 big department how could Jefferson and Commerce still thumb their noses at the rest of the lowly county people? Get real! Go Dragons!

#1.1.1 Your the Duh on 11/23/11 at 12:13 PM [Reply]

Commerce and Jefferson are City Departments they would NOT be included in a county wide dept as they are controlled by there respective city councils.

Frankly if Jefferson Fire is answering calls and not collecting a tax then the only ones getting screwed is Jefferson fire ???

As for the reader below commenting on Maysville Fire. Yup they are a joke and always have been.

#2 Jefferson Don on 11/23/11 at 07:41 AM [Reply]

Thanks Bruce. It is obvious you are running for chairman. Run Braselton and stay out of Jefferson. We don't care about you and Tom running for chairman.

#2.1 Say What? on 11/23/11 at 08:57 AM [Reply]

So the "Jefferson way" is to let good ole boys get away with not paying taxes while the rest of us get the shaft? I'm glad that Bruce brought this up! That is BS that a county commissioner isn't paying a tax that the rest of us have to pay! Don't tell me that he didn't know about it as much as he likes to throw money at the fire departments in the county. Surely he knew that they each get tax money? This is the best that Jefferson can offer us in leadership? I bet yall make him chairman...

#3 Concerned in Maysville on 11/23/11 at 08:12 AM [Reply]

Why in the world did the BOC agree to raise our fire taxes by 29% this year when that department got free radios and have less manpower this year. Wake up people, can't wait for the next election and I don't want someone to represent me in Washington DC if they can't even control one fire chief.

#3.1 Concerned? GET INVOLVED on 11/23/11 at 09:06 AM [Reply]

Your local fire board raised your taxes not the BOC. What you should be mad about is the tax increase and your FD doesn't even go to medical calls so we have to pay a different tax to the county to pay for a volunteer rescue truck to do that. What a joke! Duplicated services, how grand it must look to see three different agencies going to a car wreck! Fire trucks, rescue trucks, and an ambulance? How much fuel is that? And how much bang for your buck do you get? Why can't the fire and rescue guys ride together and heaven forbid WORK TOGETHER and at the same time save some taxpayer money!

#3.1.1 Concerned about the uninformed on 11/23/11 at 10:55 AM [Reply]

The elected board can only recommend, the BOC approves or disapproves. Get more educated. I do agree it's a mess between rescue and the so called fire department. They are the only ones like that because of that one fire chief.

#4 JustPlainOldBob on 11/23/11 at 12:00 PM [Reply]

Business as usual. Good ole boy Crow running the good old boy network. Hey Mr. Crow you never answered me about the inquiry on Foxwood Horse Farm off Jackson trail. And neither did the Chairman. Ashamed why not man up and tell us why you did this work 4 times and for whom?

Just a good old boy.... good old boy network.

#4.1 in the know... on 11/23/11 at 12:48 PM [Reply]

The reason the work was done on Jackson Trail Road is because a developer had plans approved by DON CLERECI and the plans dumped water on the horse farm causing damage. The farm was not protected by the county planners who approved the stormwater plan even though it evident that it was a failure. Then the developer bails and the county is left to clean up the mess. Go back to Clerici and ask why the county is fixing the developers problem. You should be able to drive thru the subdivision on Galillee Church Road and see the erosion problems that the county accepted responsibilty for due to the negligence of the county departments not doing their jobs. And Clerici can be thanked for it. Good Job Don!

#4.1.1 truth on 11/25/11 at 09:56 AM [Reply]

This is accurate information.

#5 that's right on 11/23/11 at 03:35 PM [Reply]

Maysville's fire chief has always been a problem. The BOC's won't do anything about him. I guess they are afraid of him. Everyone in the fire services, at one time or another, has had ill feelings with this chief. Get him out of Maysville and the entire county!! I guess he's missing his play money that the city council didn't award him, had to make up the difference somewhere.

#6 Former FF on 11/23/11 at 03:35 PM [Reply]

Most depts in Jackson are run by good ole boys and Crow caters to them without question.

About 1/4 to 1/2 don't belong on the rosters but because they have been around forever people look the other way. It will take someone dying a FF or victim before the BOC wakes up and makes changes.

With that said Bruce Yates is clueless unless he plans something the paper should disregard the information.

Also agree on Maysville. Back around 2000/2001 they had some great fireman and the Chief ran them off fearing for his job. Perfect example of good ole boy Firefighting at it's best.

In closing let me add by former I mean in Jackson county. I work(FF/EMT) and live somewhere else now but fear for my family in Jackson county.

#7 RetiredandGlad on 11/23/11 at 08:57 PM [Reply]

Everytime i see a fire truck, it stopping and getting something to eat. If the can't fight fires, at least they should be good cooks.

#8 I say on 11/24/11 at 06:33 AM [Reply]

Good more VOLUNTEER FIREMEN then full time paid, The MEn who give time for VOLUNTEER fire jobs are the ones CALLED to do this work the rest are just greedy and I say move back yes back to volunteer dept!!! quit paying people to do jobs that are PUBLIC SERVICE and companies and people VOLUNTEER to do!!! quit taxing us to EMPLOY people in PUBLIC SERVICE which used to be VOLUNTEER not PAID!!!!!!

#8.1 Volunteer it all! on 11/28/11 at 08:25 AM [Reply]

I say stop paying everybody in Government! Police, Sheriff, Commissioners, Tax man, parks and rec, make them ALL volunteer! I mean really, why should we pay cops to write tickets and the tax man to bill me if we can't pay firemen to protect us?

#9 JustPlainOldBob on 11/24/11 at 08:42 AM [Reply]

PS and thank you to the volunteers in JC.

When a close family member was thought to be having a heart attack we were very very proud of the first responders. Luckily it was not a heart attack.

#10 JustPlainOldBob on 11/24/11 at 06:20 PM [Reply]

Got to love a blog where the editors remove a post because it was too honest. Yes, they removed one of mine.

So can we assume the paper, well you know, just wants to report what is politically correct?

That is half the problem today the media wants to control the outcome.

#10.1 Parker Griffith on 11/25/11 at 11:36 AM [Reply]

We have been risking our lives for free for a long time to save life and property, and now we get a little to cover our gas. Reguardless of what decision the board makes, remeber this, if and when you call we will come not because we are paid or not, but because its our passion!! And we will give our all,just like we would if it was our family!
Thank you,
Parker Griffith
706-215-2370

#10.1.1 JustPlainOldBob on 11/25/11 at 06:04 PM [Reply]

When a close family member was thought to be having a heart attack we were very very proud of the first responders. Luckily it was not a heart attack.

Thank you volunteers.

#10.1.2 AMEN on 11/27/11 at 07:55 AM [Reply]

PArker you have the calling thank you, I have no problem with POc and this is really what needs to be more of, Workers doing it in addition to the job they give 40 to not as a way of life dependent on making a living. thank you and I am proud of POC responders and companies willing to come together to let POC workers take time from work when there is a call

#10.1.2.1 Paid on Call? on 11/27/11 at 12:31 PM [Reply]

I didn't know that Sandy Springs FD was paid on call. I thought they were the highest paying full-time fire department in Georgia. I guess all the full-time firemen that work in Hall, Gwinnett, Athens, Atlanta, Dekalb, etc that volunteer at the departments up here should be ashamed of themselves for accepting a paycheck. I guess we learn something new every day!

#11 Vol FF on 11/27/11 at 10:20 AM [Reply]

Quit grandstanding Parker ! The Jefferson FF talk a big game but that's about it. Jefferson and West Jackson think they speak for all of us.

You don't. The majority only wanted a burn building not what we got. The majority didn't want the high dollar radio system. No one asked.

The majority works 40 hours and answers their calls when they can. We miss birthdays and holidays and do it because we care and love what we do.

Tired of city depts and guys like Tom Crow speaking out like we back them. We don't.

This county needs direction in Fire services and we sure don't need guys like Nichols or Mark D leading the way.

#11.1 West Jackson? on 11/28/11 at 08:49 AM [Reply]

WHOA fella,
When has WJFD EVER said that they speak for anyone but themselves? It is the association and Tom Crow that tells everyone "This is what the firemen want."

#11.2 West Jackson? on 11/28/11 at 08:50 AM [Reply]

If the majority only wanted a burn building, then why were so many volunteers at the BOC meeting showing their butts and storming out when the commission didn't approve the $750,000 parking lot? I guess you couldn't make it to the meeting to say you only wanted a burn building. West Jackson was there in support of NOT adding another 3/4 million dollars of debt to Jackson County. WJFD was told then by the leaders of the association that WJFD didn't speak for the rest of the volunteers so they should keep their mouths shut. Where were you to back WJFD up since the "majority" didn't want the huge expense?
When did WJFD say we HAD to have that new radio system? In fact it was a Plainview FD officer (volunteer) that was arguing about why we "had" to get this new radio system. Where was the majority then? The new radio system has its good points and what we had was a joke, but don't try to put this on Jefferson and WJFD, it was the Sheriff that decided which radios to go with for the update. We all had to follow suit. NONE OF US decided on which radios to use.

#11.3 West Jackson? on 11/28/11 at 08:51 AM [Reply]

We are tired of Tom Crow speaking about what "we" want just like supposedly the "majority" is. But why doesn't this vast majority stand up and say something at association meetings when James, Tom, Eddie, etc start talking about all the fluff they want? I know our department does, and that is one reason that many volunteers at other departments don't like us. How dare WJFD go against something that the "majority" wants? From what you are saying, we ARE the ones speaking for the majority, although you wouldn't believe that from what we hear out of an association meeting. According to the people at the association meetings WJFD is the very small minority that didn't grow up here and should just keep our mouths shut.

#11.4 West Jackson? on 11/28/11 at 08:52 AM [Reply]

Last I checked it was WJFD that puts on the recruit class that ANYONE in a Jackson Co. FD can attend FOR FREE. It is WJFD officers that teach the classes (off the clock), proctor and evaluate the testing (off the clock), and have study groups for the students each year (off the clock). This makes it possible for the citizens of Jackson County to have about 16 new firefighters each year to help with emergencies. This year's class has 1 from NJVFD, 2 from JFD, 1 from Plainview, 1 from SJFD, 1 from Arcade, 3 from Harrisburg, 4 from Jackson Trail, and 3 from WJFD. If it weren't for US doing this with help from Jake Stringer, we'd all have to find people that can take 8 weeks off straight from their 40 hour jobs to be a firefighter. You don't support us, you don't have our back, you don't like us BUT BY GOD YOU'LL SEND YOUR RECRUITS TO US TO MAKE THEM FIREMEN and then bash us behind our backs.

#11.5 West Jackson? on 11/28/11 at 08:53 AM [Reply]

I know we don't speak for you, I don't even speak for my Department here, but it sickens me that we try to get along with the other departments, we try to be involved, we try to help with training classes since we have the instructors and the time to set these classes up and we are still bashed. If we stay to ourselves you would complain that we thought we were better than you (I remember those days), if we try to be involved you say we should butt out and we think we are better than you.

#12 Hit a nerve on 11/28/11 at 11:42 AM [Reply]

Well I guess WJFD told us LOL ! The Firemans association is a joke, please don't use that in a post anymore PLEASE.

You see the Fire Service in Jackson is broken, the cowards at the BOC refuse to take care of an issue that impacts each of you. Why ?

I agree that West Jackson , Jefferson and Commerce have no dog in the fight because your depts and districts are set up differently and independently (WJFD).

But the rest set a tax rate and the BOC controls the tax rate and the check book.

Between the infighting(see above) and some Chiefs that should have been removed years ago isn't it time for the BOC to address this mess ?

#13 JustPlainOldBob on 11/28/11 at 12:48 PM [Reply]

See where your tax dollars are being spent....
Take a drive down Jackson trail and see the front of Foxwood Horse Farm beautiful landscaped, culverted, system. Enjoy the view WE paid for it.

No one will convince me this was not a favor from Mr. Crow . The nice concrete ditch was more than enough to take care of the so called water issue.

Enjoy it you paid for it. Nothing like fixing it 4 times to get it beautiful.

#14 Bob's buddy on 11/29/11 at 09:49 PM [Reply]

Let's get back to the point at hand. A member of our Board of Commissioners has knowingly not paid his fair share of taxes for services delivered on his property for over a decade. Here he sits high above us on his throne at the opulent Jackson County Courthouse thumbing his nose to anyone who dare question him. Wake up people! Do you not care that your taxes are higher because this nucklehead is not wanting to have to pay his fair share. Why do you thing he ran for commissioner and will probably try to run for chairman? It is so he can live here in Jackson County and sqaunder all YOUR tax dollars on such things as the "Tom Crow/Doug Waters Memorial Penal Complex for Fire Training" and the "Friends and Family Progam" he runs with the taxes dollars he collects off you and your friends and family. Its always easier to spent someone elses money, right? I hate taxes too, but dang it, I at least pay my fair share!

#15 JustPlainOldBob on 11/30/11 at 07:18 AM [Reply]

Post 14 Bob's Buddy on:
We need to vote Crow out of office. And as a tax paying citizen we ought to demand the budget with expenditures be published online MONTHLY.

This is not a new idea at least one other county is doing this.

I agree with the high taxes as an issue. My property value has dropped 50% but yet the taxes I pay have not gone down and yes the after battling the valuation was reduced.

We must demand the squandering stop.

#15.1 parker griffith on 12/01/11 at 07:51 PM [Reply]

All these words mean nothing unless you put Your real name on with a contact number and stand by your voice! Atleast be a man..

#15.1.1 not again on 12/02/11 at 08:25 AM [Reply]

Still don't know when to walk away Parker ?
Just let it go already.

#16 Social hermit on 12/09/11 at 10:01 AM [Reply]

http://m.aol.com/dailyfinance/default/articleStory.do?category=main&url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/10/07/tennessee-fire-ignites-national-debate-on-public-services/&icid=dsk_df_news. At least were not Tennessee

#16.1 that on 12/09/11 at 10:40 AM [Reply]

would be good cause first your insurance company could include it as part of your premeium, second I know a family had in 1989 a million dollar home they paid off, no money owed on it, then the father decided he didnt need insurance sine in the thirty years he never used it, his son advised him not to cancel it, a month later the home and all in it burnt to the ground older folks commented how the loss in addition to the million dollar home was almost another 2 plus million in the furnishings.
but the father had made a choice he was not on the news crying about his choice he sucked it up and moved on

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Commissioners hold heated fire talk

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