Today in the Dominion Post report article says the Preston County Commission has elected to stop providing the 12 VOLUNTEER fire departments is annual payment of $2250 for this years fiscal budget.

When the Preston County Firemen's Association started the process of the volunteer fire department levy, which was successfully passed by the voters/citizens of Preston County. During those meetings to discuss options about the levy, some of the commissioners attended. Don Smith and Dave Price stated that they would not eliminate our annual donation/payment if the levy passed, which at that time was $3000. The year after the levy passed the Preston County Commission cut that down to $2250. Now they want to eliminate it altogether! During this time of crisis, it is not the time to reduce or eliminate funding for your first responders or Health Department.

Now one may argue, that yes we have the levy. But it is only for 5 years(4 years left), the projected amount of $40,000 per year actually ended up to be around $30,000 for this past year. Now take into account that none of your 12 VOLUNTEER fire departments can fundraise due to the current crisis we are in. That $2250 becomes even more important to the departments. It may not seem like a lot of money but it goes a long way for some VFDs.

They are going to continue to pay for a program we use called I am Responding. Which is a benefit to us, the ambulance squads and the Preston County 911 center.

I want to THANK ALL the Preston County residents for there support of their local VFD and supporting the levy, along with the other fundraisers they hold throughout the year. It is just really disappointing to see how little support our county commissioners give us and what they really think of us. But they will attend our fundraisers when they want to get reelected. We are the ones that are out cutting up trees and handling traffic control for disabled vehicles and wrecks, when other paid agencies either don't show up upon request or they just leave the scene.

When the fire whistle blows and pager goes off we will be there. Our 12 VOLUNTEER fire departments work more as a team now then we ever have and we will continue to do so.