Kendall County Commissioners Court May 27 approved the launch of a pilot program supplying paid firefighters to the Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department.
Commissioners Jennifer McCall, Andra Wisian and Chad Carpenter voted to kick-start the four-month pilot program, while Commissioner Richard Chapman and County Judge Shane Stolarczyk voted against, seeing the effort as little more than a stopgap to the larger pressing problem of adequately staffed and trained fire departments.
Bergheim Chief Adam Hawkins called the program, funded at $46,675, “a major step forward in ensuring consistent and reliable fire protection in our area”
“This funding will allow us to hire paid firefighters to provide dedicated coverage at the station, improving our responsiveness to emergencies,” Hawkins said Wednesday in a social media post.
Hawkins appeared before Commissioners Court at its May 27 meeting with emails from other county volunteer fire chiefs supporting the Bergheim pay pilot program.
“This isn’t a power trip; this is what we fully believe is the best way to run this program,” Hawkins told commissioners. “I think there are some potential issues with continuing the program that we have (in place).”
In discussions with his firefighters, Hawkins said they expressed an interest in having one person available around the clock, rather than two firefighters working 8-to-5 shifts.
“It was overwhelming. We’d rather have consistent coverage, seven days, and for longer periods,” he said. “The big part of that is, it’s a guaranteed driver ... which is one of our biggest obstacles, with certain trucks needing certain requirements to drive.”
Wisian, whose District 2 contains a large portion of Bergheim response area, said constituents in her district want expanded fire coverage.
“The need is now,” Wisian said. “My constituents overwhelmingly want to do something now.”
Hawkins said the pay could attract applicants from other districts that may bring other qualifications, or present ideas that could improve Bergheim’s ability to respond to fires.
“We would get some people with more experience under their belt” with the pay offer, he said. “Out of the gate, we’ll get more qualified individuals, for sure.”
Commissioner Chad Carpenter was on board with the pilot program; so much so, he’d like to see it become part of the budget in October.
“We’re not allowed, as a county of our size, to be hiring county firefighters,” Carpenter said. “I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t give you a run at this. I think during the budget process we need to add money to what you're doing, and let you continue this, so you have a full year to see how this works.”
In 2005, Bergheim submitted filings for registering with Texas as a nonprofit corporation. In early 2006, an application was made to the IRS for 501(c)3 tax-exempt classification.
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