The new Laurens County Fire Ordinance #780 was unanimously approved on second reading at this week’s County Council meeting, with some questioning from Councilman Joe Wood. The ordinance would create a unified fire district in Laurens County and abolish all current rural fire districts for ease of administration and debt retirement. Wood questioned if this ordinance changed ownership of some fire stations in the county, and was assured by County Attorney Sandy Cruickshanks that this vote was only to establish a special purpose tax district.
The ordinance states “The council has determined that in order to best serve the citizens of and property located within the county it is appropriate to create a single taxing district for fire protection encompassing all of the prior districts. In doing so the council will facilitate easier administration of fire protection services and the financing of capital improvements…” Attorney Cruickshanks told council that this would be necessary before any bond issue could be started. County Council plans to issue bonds early next year to finance repairs to some stations and the building of new stations to fill in coverage gaps in the county. A public hearing on the ordinance is to be held in January, before 3rd and final reading.