SCBC hesitant to approve funding for Eastanollee Fire Department when Fire Chief is a no-show at meeting

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners has agreed to give Eastanollee Volunteer Fire Department $45,000.

On Tuesday, during the Commissioners regular scheduled meeting, Eastanollee Fire Chief Jamey Gettys was supposed to present the request in front of the commission; however, he did not show up.

County Administrator Phyllis Ayers explained that the county had requested Gettys turn in a budget with his requests for additional funding; but never received it.

Ayers explained that Eastanollee Fire Department was set at $0 because they never turned in a budget for Fiscal Year 2023.

“The decision was made to give them the 2022 adopted budget figure, they were adopted $45,000 last year and $0 this year, but we did put $45,000 in contingencies knowing that they would come forward because they need to get their bills paid and some of those are utility bills,” she said.

Vice Chair Dennis Bell asked why Gettys did not turn in a budget.

“My question is why didn’t the budget get turned in,” Bell asked?

“Eastanollee Chief said that he did bring it to us, so, there’s a miscommunication…he said he brought it to us, but it was not located in the office,” Ayers said.

“Have we got a representative from the fire department, any representative, here tonight,” Bell asked?

“I don’t think so,” Ayers said.

Commissioner Dean Scarborough recommended that they put the $45,000 into their budget like the commission had already approved. Commissioner Debbie Whitlock said she agreed with Scarborough.

Ayers recommended they allow her to pay the utility bills but not to issue any purchase orders until they receive a budget from Gettys.

“What you can do is just authorize me to pay utilities and things that might shut the building down and have him come to the next meeting,” Ayers said.

“This is something I’d like to see, let’s go ahead and keep the water, gas, and power and all that on, but, I want to know why the budget wasn’t turned in,” Bell said.

“He said he turned it in,” Scarborough said.

“Well, if he turned it in we ought to have a copy of it,” Bell said.

“We did tell the fire chief that we were missing that budget several times. Since he’s not here, just authorize me to pay the utility bills but not to issue any purchase orders or any other invoices until he comes forward at the next meeting,” Ayers said.

Bell said he agrees with Ayers unless an emergency happens, and they need additional funding. Whitlock says the commission should show Gettys some grace.

Chairman James Addison says he doesn’t want to cut the volunteers short because their chief didn’t show up. Scarborough again recommended they move the $45,000 into the Eastanollee Fire Department’s budget. Whitlock agreed with Scarborough.

The final motion was to move the $45,000 into the Eastanollee Fire Department’s budget and to ask Gettys to come before the commission at the next meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.