By Bianca Montes
The Victoria Advocate
VICTORIA COUNTY, Texas — Victoria County Commissioners approved spending about $20,000 to assist two rural volunteer fire departments.
The Victoria County Fire Department requested assistance Monday to purchase equipment for its tanker and fire engine.
The equipment will be used for various emergency needs such as vehicle extrication, medical and structure fires, Assistant Fire Chief Dave Garza said.
The purchases will benefit the entire county served by the department, Garza said.
“It’s not a want, it’s a need item we’re asking for,” he told commissioners. Garza asked commissioners for $12,600.
County Fire Marshal Ron Pray recommended the assistance. Pray said because the hydrants were recently upgraded at the Victoria Regional airport, new piston intake relief valves and a larger upgraded hose were needed to handle the high water capacity and flow pressure.
Pray said the county tanker also needed equipment and tools to operate properly as a Class A pumper/tanker.
The items will get the truck up to Insurance Service Organization standards and allow the county to apply for an ISO evaluation of the district.
“This equipment along with the new hydrants should bring about a reduction in the fire insurance rates for the county taxpayers in this response district, including the Victoria Regional Airport tenants,” Pray said.
The reduction would be for those living within 5 miles of the airport.
The Placedo Volunteer Fire Department also asked commissioners for assistance Monday. The department asked for about $7,200 to repair a bay door at the station and fix noncompliant plumbing facilities.
Assistant Chief Calvin Davis said the Placedo Volunteer Fire Department was cited by the county health department for not having running water in the restrooms and kitchen.
The health department also is requiring the station to install a third sink for the food preparations area.
Pray recommended the assistance to commissioners.
Commissioner Kevin Janak asked Pray where he thought the money for projects would come from.
He replied, wherever the court pleases.
“There is not enough money in my budget to take care of it,” he said.
Commissioners decided the money for equipment needed by the Victoria County Volunteer Fire Department would come from the department’s contingency line item in the budget.
The county’s contingency line item is the amount set aside in the budget for unanticipated expenses that may arise in any given year, County Judge Ben Zeller said.
Normally, Zeller said the county would have taken the money for the equipment from the assistance fund, but they didn’t want to deplete the fund.
Any money moved from the contingency fund must be approved by commissioners.
The Volunteer Firefighter’s Assistance Fund had $40,000 allocated for it this fiscal year. About $32,900 remains in the fund, Pray said.
Money not spent will return to the general fund.
The money for the Placedo Volunteer Fire Department’s needed improvements will be funded by the department’s assistance line item, which is part of the Fire Marshal’s budget.
Zeller called both items legitimate needs.
“Victoria County is blessed with an amazing group of volunteer firefighters who serve our community without any compensation,” he said. “We never hesitate to give them the tools and equipment they need to get the job done.”
Copyright 2016 Victoria Advocate