SFC Quorum Court misses mark on Act 833 funding

On Tuesday, the St. Francis County Quorum Court made a decision that I feel is going to set us back as a whole in this county.

From listening to testimonies from fire chiefs across the county at the Aug. 30 meeting of the county’s Intergovernmental Council, I fully understood where they were coming from when they mentioned the difference between what Forrest City is able to budget for a fire department versus what their cities are able to budget.

For example, in the case of the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department, all of their funds are either raised, donated or divvied out from the Act 833 funding that is distributed each year.

I listened to what they had to say and I understood how frustrating it must be for groups like the Colt Fire Department who not only cover the township, but also an area of the county for which they receive no tax dollars, but still answer the call selflessly when they are needed.

During my time as a reporter with the Times-Herald, I have gotten to know a lot the first responders in the county, most notably the Forrest City Fire Department. I have spent enough time with them to know first hand that even though the other fire departments mentioned things like buying used vehicles, the Forrest City Fire Department is not driving around in 2022 fire trucks.

Maybe I am a little biased because I have lived in Forrest City my entire life, but I want what is in the overall best interests for the entire county.

I feel that the decision by the county’s Quorum Court justices to not approve a resolution allowing a change in the distribution formula for funding was rushed and not fully understood by all justices.

I feel that the only thing some justices were focused on was a number – dollar signs if you will. They did not ask any questions regarding the fact that the amount of funds the county will receive is going to continue to increase and these departments would have their money back pretty quickly.

Forrest City is expanding, believe it or not, as the ground work for yet another hotel is in the works at this moment. I have also learned from sources that there is another new hotel coming to our city. These hotels will further change the fire insurance premiums in our favor, bringing more money into the Act 833 fund for this area.

In addition to these new hotels, the FCFD recently received the green light for a training facility to be constructed behind Fire Station 2 on Dawson Road. This, once again, has the ability to change these premiums in our favor.

FCFD Chief Shane Dallas said in the Intergovernmental meeting of the mayors of St. Francis County that he does not believe these premiums will go back up. I tend to trust that judgement.

The mayors, with the exception of Forrest City Mayor Cedric Williams and Madison Mayor Bobby Hardrick, who did not attend the meeting, voted unanimously in favor of this proposal. These mayors knew when they made the decision to support the proposal that it would be a loss of money, but it seems that, like myself, they understood the money is going to continue to rise, and through this proposal, the county could have risen together.

I guess the Quorum Court, not as a whole, but as a majority, felt the need for a cold shoulder for Forrest City as we continue to remain stagnant at a measly $50,000 for our fire department – a fire department I have watched grow, seen train constantly and that I trust wholeheartedly.

It was nice to see the brotherhood between departments regardless of the way the vote turned out.

To hear in their comments that this meant nothing to them personally because in the line of duty, they are all brothers and they would all respond to the call no matter what time of day or where in the county it sends them, is just one reason I am very proud to have the men and women we have as our first responders in St. Francis County today.

I just wish that some of our Quorum Court members had taken the time to really delve into the issue, maybe read an article or show up to meetings over the matter to truly understand the need we have right here.

Unfortunately, sometimes all people care to look at is a dollar sign.