Justices approve resolution to fund fire departments

Act 833 funding requires approve of SFC Intergovernmental Council

St. Francis County Quorum Court justices this week approved a new resolution allowing Act 833 funding for the county’s fire departments to be disbursed.

SFC Judge Craig Jones explained the resolution needed to be passed to change language in a similar resolution approved by justices last year.

"The resolution that we have on the agenda tonight corrects the language of Resolution 2302," said Jones. "That resolution dealt with the intergovernmental council, which is the mayors in the county, and the Act 833 funding from the state. Nothing is changing about the amount that is funded to each fire department. This resolution better explains the payment method and amounts each department receives. This new resolution only changes the wording in paragraphs of the original resolution.”

SFC Office of Emergency Management Director Zakk Jumper explained the resolution to justices.

Jumper said that due to changes made by the county’s intergovernmental council, the Forrest City Fire Department was to receive a larger portion of the funds this year compared to past years.

"We did this last year. We were trying to get Forrest City back up to the 30% mark, where we were in 2012 when this started," said Jumper. "What happened, was that all of the applications went in and the state, at the Department of Finance Administration, said it was too difficult to determine a 30% mark so they recommended letting the intergovernmental council meet every year to make sure we are hitting that 30% mark. The intergovernmental council, at that time, decided that Forrest City would receive $50,000 every year and the rest would be divided among the different smaller departments."

According to Jumper, the intergovernmental council is not scheduled to meet again until next year, and that he, along with members of area fire departments, are recommending they meet in January.

"None of the amounts are changing in this resolution," said Jumper. "Everybody will be getting the same amount that was voted on. All this is doing is moving the 30% from the state doing it back down to the intergovernmental council. We have the meeting set for 2025, and we were going to suggest January, but it is up to the mayors when they would like to meet. If they meet in January, they could make sure that dispersion is correct before the funds are dispersed."

Jumper told justices the current goal is to get the FCFD up to the 30% portion of the money before all fire department's funds begin growing together.

"We won't know what Forrest City's number is until the end of the year," said Jumper. "Historically, Forrest City has been getting $50,000 since 2012 and the smaller departments were set at that time at about $12,500. Last year, they were at $29,271 with no increase to Forrest City since 2012. They will be at that $29,000 mark until Forrest City reaches that 30% mark and then everyone will rise together."

Justices unanimously voted in favor of the new resolution.

Brodie Johnson • Times-Herald The traffic lights that have yet to be removed at the intersections of Hill and Washington Streets and Front and Washington Streets through downtown Forrest City must be covered as long as they are not in use. Marvin Washington, with the Forrest City Public Works Department, replaces a plastic bag on one of the lights at the intersection of Hill and Washington.