County approves financial assistance to firemen and Heflin cleanup efforts
Wayne Ruple
05-19-2008
Following discussions Monday night with Cleburne County Volunteer Firemen Association members Chad Roberts and Larry Addison, the Cleburne County Commission approved a “one more time” payment of $6,000 to the group in an effort to help them financially with Workers Compensation Insurance and at the request of Commissioner Tracy Lambert the commission also offered to assist the City of Heflin financially with clean up following Sunday’s tornado. Both Addison and Roberts cited “skyrocketing fuel costs” has a key reason why they need help this year with insurance payments due this week. All commissioners were in agreement to help the association but noted that the county also has limited funds. “There is limited money in our discretionary funds,” said Commissioner Bobby Brooks. Recently Commissioner Joel Robinson gave a total of $9,000 to the volunteer fire departments in his district and Brooks gave $4,500 to departments in his district.
Cleburne County Commission Ex-Officio Chairman Ryan Robertson said he has always had the feeling that there is a lot of animosity between the commission and association. He said he believes some feel the commission is against the fire departments and that commissioners don’t do enough for the volunteer firemen. “I don’t know what the answer is but we all need to watch our budgets and work together. We’re in a tight with our road department and I don’t think higher taxes are a good idea.” Roberts said some association members want to see it operate as a real association. “Don’t take what you hear as the thoughts of our association,” he told the commissioners. Robinson suggested the commission needs to “search for a way to help.” Commissioner Tracy Lambert said he supports the firemen 100 percent but noted the county also operates on a limited budget. “Fuel is killing everyone’s department.” he added. “Let’s work together and see what we can work out.” Addison said on the average a department will spend $8,000 or more per year on upkeep of the station, equipment and trucks. Brooks said he believes everyone is going to have to start making sacrifices similar to those made during World War II. Roberts said he fears sacrificing within fire departments could result in the loss of lives. Lambert said a payment to the associaton will “put a bandaid on the bleeding” and suggested the association come up with a cost cutting/saving plan to solve the problem. In another financial matter, Lambert also suggested, and received approval, to offer financial assistance to the City of Heflin following Sunday morning’s F-1 tornado. Lambert said the money will help the city pay for debris removal from their streets and gives them a 180 days to repay the money, expected to be $30,000 or more. On Monday morning the city sought, from the county, an inmate work release crew, two dump trucks with drivers and a backhoe with an operator with most of the payment for these services being paid out of “grant or appropriation monies and not the city’s general fund.” Cleburne County Executive Officer Steve Swafford commented that the City of Heflin must be in financial trouble following Lambert’s report that an offer to assist with a 90 day pay-back time was rejected. Lambert said the 180 day offer would give the city “a little bit longer” to complete the pay-back. Swafford told the commissioners that, “It is very unlikely Heflin will qualify for financial help in debris removal” from the state or federal governments simply because there was not enough damage to qualify. An earlier joint meeting with American Red Cross, Alabama Emergency Management and National Weather Service personnel revealed that a state emergency declaration is usually not issued unless there is $5.5 million in statewide damages. In other matters: * Swafford reported that county and city attorneys are working out documents to complete the transfer of the joint city/county industrial park over into the City of Heflin’s ownership. * Commissioners approved a resolution to bid solid waste services later this year. * Listened as Mike Price said he feels the regulations concerning junk yards is unfair. Price said he keeps old ‘50s and ‘60s cars on his property off U.S. 431 and people like to view the old vehicles. Price said he put up a screen but was later told it was not proper and in compliance. The correct screen, he said, would block the view of those wishing to see the cars. County attorney Doug Ghee explained that federal laws specify what can be done along federal highways. “The commission cannot supercede federal law,” he said. Commissioners said it would be unfair to make an exception for Price and not for others and therefore took no action to change the county regulations.
About Wayne Ruple
Cleburne News editor Wayne Ruple is a native of Ashville. Before coming to Heflin, he worked for three years as a computer systems manager in Birmingham. Ruple has worked for The Sand Mountain Reporter in Albertville, and was the editor of The Independent in Robertsdale. He has also worked for the Shades Valley Sun, the St. Clair News-Aegis and The Daily Home in Talladega.
