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By Chris Cooper-Managing Editor chriscndl@bellsouth.net

“The free ride is over,” said Olmstead Fire Chief Lynn Dawson to the Logan County Fiscal Court Tuesday.

Dawson was speaking of Logan's volunteer firefighters and first responders and the organizations' lack of funding from the county.

According to Dawson there are 119 volunteers in Adairville, Auburn, Lewisburg, Olmstead and Russellville who risk their lives every day to help the citizens of the county and they receive little to no pay for it. The issue isn't necessarily pay - however, because these men and women have dedicated their lives to helping others but equipment costs that are going to be an issue soon due to age.

Dawson gave a presentation showing each department's equipment costs, how old the equipment was and the amount of calls each volunteer made in 2007.

All the equipment has been purchased through donations or grants,” said Dawson who reiterated that the volunteer departments were working on trucks ranging from five to 25-plus years old. He said to replace some of those trucks would be very costly.

“We don't have that kind of money,” said Dawson. “The people in this county have been very supportive of the fire departments, but the county has gotten a free ride and now it is time for more support. We have a little money in the bank, but do you know how long it takes to save $240,000 for a truck?”

The county's occupational tax increase years ago was brought to light by Dawson. He said it was his and many others understanding that when the county raised its occupational net profit tax the fire departments were on the list as a reason to do so. According to Magistrate Jo Orange the county has been supporting the departments with $15,000 annually for the last two years. Dawson thanked the court for that donation and said it has been a life saver for them on days when they didn't think they would be able to pay their bills, but it wasn't nearly enough to cover needed equipment.

“I would like the county to come on board with this. These men and women are part of your emergency services and it's not going to be cheap. We are talking about a major expense,” said Dawson, who added that the dues they collect from citizens are not enough.

“Some pay and some don't,” said Dawson.

There were 1,500 calls in 2006 that were responded to by either volunteer firefighters or first responders, according to Dawson.

CHC ambulance service Vice President Wade Stone commented on the Logan County First Responders program by saying, “We couldn't do our job without them. We need to tip our hats to them all.”

The county's first responders are the ones who leave their homes and jobs to come to the aid of someone in need. Many times they are the ones who show up before the ambulances get there to stabilize or even save someone's life.

Magistrate Thomas Bouldin spoke about possibly adding a tax to property to help support the fire departments. Dawson said that might be a good idea but felt whatever money that was generated needed to come through the fiscal court so they would better have control over it.

Dawson mentioned the library tax and said he felt that to be out of control and said the court and no one else has any say where that money is spent.

Bouldin said he thought the county should support the volunteer fire departments and first responders and said they can't operate on 40 year old equipment.

“This is all up to priorities and where you want to put your money,” said Dawson. “We use to just respond to fires now we respond to accidents, emergencies and hazmat incidents. We do the same jobs as the professionals without the funding. We are not asking for $8 to $10 million just enough for us to operate.”

Adairville Mayor Jim Wilkerson said the community is supposed to work for one another.

“This is the health or our citizens,” he said.