County donates $35,000 per VFD

LISA HOBBS - News Editor

Seven rural fire departments will share in $245,000, an allocation in the 2026-27 fiscal year budget of Warren County Government.

“I was reading this list,” said Commissioner Donna Smith. “I think Budget and Finance did a great job. My question is: how was the $35,000 appropriated to each of the volunteer fire departments? How was that figure arrived at, Scott?”

Commissioner Scott Rubley replied, “It was a random figure. It was just increased funding, trying to stay within the expenditures that we have in past years and knowing that they need more money.”

Smith clarified that she was not questioning anyone’s integrity.

County Executive Terry Bell stated, “In our 22-23 budget, that figure was $11,000. That’s all it was. That’s how much of an increase we’ve given our volunteer fire departments.”

The departments received a combined $140,000 last year, or $20,000 each.

“When me and Mr. Rubley and some more first came on [the commission], it was $5,000. Their prices, their insurance, their everything, have skyrocketed. They are having a hard time keeping people, because they can’t afford the equipment that they need. We’ve tried to increase their funding every year.”

Other organizations receiving monetary donations:

·         Warren County Emergency Communications District - $230,000

·         Main Street McMinnville - $6,400

·         Young Men United - $3,000

·         Families in Crisis - $10,000

·         McMinnville Special Games - $12,500

·         Pregnancy Care Center of McMinnville - $5,000

·         Warren County Senior Center and C.A.R.E.S - $45,000

·         Warren County Home Delivery Meals - $25,000

·         Magness Memorial Library - $120,000

·         Warren County A&L Fair - $17,166

·         McMinnville/Warren County Chamber of Commerce - $7,000

·         Warren County Rescue Squad - $35,000

·         Warren County Emergency Food Bank - $5,000

Pulled from the list at the 11th hour was Warren County Memorial Airport Pilots and Tech Corporation EAA Chapter.

“That’s the Experimental Aircraft Association,” he stated. “I voted against that originally in the committee meeting, another commissioner did as well. After that, I heard some unhappiness within the community. We brought that to the attention of the committee and the committee recommended that we revisit that tonight. I have looked at that and during a nonprofit review, our IDB director Ms. Wendy Sneed said that there were multiple grants where we might secure that funding.”

His motion, to stay the donation to EAA and redirect the $5,000 to Warren County Emergency Food Bank, passed unanimously. Originally, the food bank was to receive nothing.

Rubley added, “I made this comment during the nonprofit review: I think the nonprofit money was originally indicated for the health and welfare of Warren County and [EAA] didn’t fall under that purview.”

Total amount unanimously allocated was $766,066.

Also in attendance were Commissioners Scott Kelly, Ron Lee, Christy Ross, Charles Dotson, Ken Martin, Chris Rippy, Blaine Wilcher, Brad Hillis, Phillip Stout, Gary Martin, Carlene Brown, Steven D. Helton, Gary Prater, Cole Taylor, Tommy Savage, Michael Bell, Steve M. Glenn and Kenny Moffitt.