FROM STAFF REPORTS

Iredell County commissioners on Tuesday began the process of eliminating county funding for the Wayside Volunteer Fire Department.

The move, which almost certainly signals the end of the department, came after efforts by the department to meet minimum staffing requirements fell short.

Commissioners voted 4-0 to authorize county staff to notify the Wayside board that the department had breached its contract to provide fire protection service to the district. (Commissioner Scottie Brown did not attend the meeting due to a death in his family.)

From May of 2022 through December of 22, the department missed 26.7 percent of total responses, including one fire, according to county data. During 2023, the department missed 27 percent of total responses, including a structure fire and three other fires. So far this year, the department has missed 15 percent of total responses, including one fire.

Although the Wayside board has 30 days to demonstrate it is in compliance with the contract, county officials do not expect that to happen. Under the terms of the contract, the county will stop funding the department in 90 days.

During Tuesday’s pre-agenda meeting, commissioners decided to divide up the territory in the Wayside Fire District between the Cool Springs Fire Department and Troutman Fire Rescue. Those departments, along with the Statesville Fire Department, have been responding to calls in the Wayside district to ensure there is adequate coverage.

The action by county commissioners was necessary after the Office of the State Fire Marshal notified county officials that the ISO Fire Protection rating in the Wayside district would be increased to 10, which means the district is considered “unprotected,” as a result of the department’s inability to meet minimum staffing requirements. If that happens, homeowners and businesses in the district would likely see large increases in their insurance premiums.

State officials have delayed taking that step while county officials worked to improve fire protection coverage in the district.

According to Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management Director Kent Greene, the Wayside board will “likely relinquish the department” if the county offered to take over.

All of the property and apparatus under the stewardship of the Wayside board would revert to the county. Commissioners said Wayside’s two stations and trucks would be reallocated to Cool Springs Fire Department and Troutman Fire Rescue. Those departments would also receive the county funds previously allocated to Wayside.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Greene attributed Wayside’s inability to meet its contractual obligations to a decline in volunteerism and challenges associated with hiring part-time firefighters.

“It’s a nationwide problem,” Greene explained.

Commissioners felt like they had no choice but to take action.

“We owe it to the people who pay the fire tax to provide this service,” Vice Chairman Bert Connolly said.

“This has not been a quick decision, a hasty decision,” Commissioner Gene Houpe added.

Commissioners opted to split the Wayside district up between Cool Springs and Troutman — rather than just have Wayside and Troutman merge — because doing so would allow Wayside’s volunteers to continue their service with Cool Springs if they choose to do so. Troutman Fire Rescue does not utilize volunteers at this time.