Fredericktown Community Fire District

Residents of the Fire District will see a 1-mil fire protection replacement levy on the November 7 ballot that will replace a levy that was originally voted on in 2003.  At the January board meeting of the Fredericktown Community Fire District the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to seek this replacement levy.  

According to data from the Knox County Auditor’s Office the levy will generate an estimated $235,931 per year, up from the current $158,200.  This breaks down to an estimated increase of $12.24 for every $100,000 of property valuation, or to break it down further about 3-cents per day.  

“Our operational budget relies on the passage of the levies that exist for the fire district,” said FCFD Chief Scott Mast.  “The members of this community that we serve have supported us extremely well and we are grateful for all they have done so that we can provide these critical services.”

The replacement levy will generate roughly $77,731 additional for the fire district per year just by funding being based off current property valuations.

“Discussions at board meetings about the eventual need for this go back over the last five years,” said Chief Mast.  “A replacement levy essentially brings our funding back to a level prior to putting on daytime staffing and will allow us to focus additional on long term goals of the district.”  

While this levy was voted on in 2003, the only reason it went before district voters then was to reword and remove the Village of Chesterville at that time.  Realistically, the verbiage and milage from this levy date back to 1983.   

A significant amount has changed since the levy was voted on in 2003, financial crisis, two recessions, and a worldwide pandemic just to name the major items that have significantly affected the economy in one form or another.  Meanwhile the cost of operations across the board haven’t just increased, they have exploded. 

“Very few entities that are funded by property taxes can say that they have went this long without seeking a renewal or change to increase funding and that is a significant accomplishment,” said Assistant Chief Jason Bostic.  “We expect increases from time to time, but inflation and the cost of products and goods that are required in our line of work have had a tremendous financial impact.”

Expenses just aren’t on the rise, the call volume that the fire district handles has increased by 102-percent when this levy and rate was originally voted in.  Some equipment and gear that the district purchases have seen price increases of over 500-percent in the last two decades.  

“We can’t control the growth within the district, inflation, and cost of doing business,” said Assistant Chief Bostic.  “We have utilized grants and other methods to save our taxpayers well over a half million dollars during the same time of this levy we are discussing.  This has been diligent work on behalf of many with fiscal responsibility, leadership decisions, community support, and even creativity.”

The Fredericktown Community Fire District is a combination department of part-time and paid-per-call volunteers that provides fire and rescue services within our 118 square mile district.  We operate from two firehouses, one in Fredericktown and the other at the Pike Township House.  We have a total of nine apparatus within our fleet of vehicles.  The FCFD currently 

has 25 members with the majority possessing their Firefighter II certification.  In addition to firefighters, we have eight fire cadets that are currently in high school that provide support functions.  We have a diverse group of men and women that come from various backgrounds that fill the ranks of our department.

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The Fredericktown Community Fire District was notified that our grant submission to the Energy Cooperative Operation Round Up Foundation was selected for funding.  The grant totaling $9,992 for the purchase of water rescue gear was worked on by Lieutenant Haley Rook and Firefighter Bronson Mast.  

“The work put into the research on equipment and the grant by Lt. Rook and Firefighter Mast will have a positive impact now and into the future,” said Assistant Chief Bostic.  “Water rescue is nothing new for the FCFD, we’ve been doing this type of rescue work for decades.”

Funding from this grant will purchase six new ice water rescue suits, four swift water rescue suits, gloves, and storage bags to be utilized by the district.  

Surface water rescue, ice rescue, and swift water rescue have long been a part of the mission of the FCFD.  The funding from this grant will allow for modernization and replacement of some dated equipment that the fire district has.  When we look at the numbers over the years, this equipment fits the most common water operations that our district responds to.  

“This grant will allow us to update existing gear and add a newer type of gear of gear for the rescues we do.  This was the reason we applied for the grant,” said Lieutenant Rook.  “Having better sizes that will fit more of us will also help.”

Purchases like this are of significant impact financially and to the mission of the FCFD.  Utilization of grants at the Federal, State, and Local levels is something that the district does on a regular basis.

“Grant funding has been a way that we have made significant positive changes to the mission of the fire district with either no financial requirements or a minimal matching amount,” said Assistant Chief Jason Bostic.  “We are fortunate and thankful that the Operation Round Up Foundation chose to award us this grant and we will steward those finances and resources well.  While the district has benefitted, it is truly the community and those that we serve who will see the impact.”#

Last week we were invited to the annual luncheon of the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities that was held in Mount Vernon on March 8.  While we knew of the first award that was being presented, we were surprised and very honored with the second award.

Honorary Firefighter Brad Porter was presented with the “Individual Spotlight Award”, that recognizes a person with developmental disability that has overcome adversity to achieve or go beyond their goal.  They have the drive to be better, to be more independent, and to make a difference in their life and the lives of others.  

Brad was sworn in as an Honorary Firefighter with the Fredericktown Community Fire District on July 9, 2022. He regularly attends meetings, training, knows what’s happening, and is a part of the family.  Brad knows no stranger and has been an amazing ambassador for the FCFD as he makes his rounds through the village.  He has his own locker, helmet, fire coat, uniform, and always has a place with us.  When Brad isn’t at the firehouse, he works at Pioneer Food Services at the Mount Vernon Nazarene University where he has been since 2009.

The award ceremony wasn’t finished however, and we were taken back and honored to be presented with the “Local Hero” award.  This award recognizes those that promote healthy ideas, offer support and guidance and to create improvements in the lives of those with developmental disabilities.  The FCFD was recognized for our efforts and heart to have Honorary Firefighter Brad Porter as a part of our district and help him to accomplish a dream.  Accepting the award on behalf of the fire district was FCFD Fire Chief Scott Mast.  

Our fire cadets met last week for their regular training at the firehouse. Training was led by Captain Smith and Firefighter Canter. The cadets worked on gear proficiency, proper protective gear donning, and time. Once they were warmed up the training turned to work with the forcible entry door. Paired up they worked to practice forcing the door with the “irons” and then advancement of a charged hose line into the structure.

The cadet program is open to high school students throughout the area and has been an extremely successful endeavor for recruitment here at the FCFD. Numerous past cadets still serve with the district or have gone on to continue their fire career with several departments. If you are interested in more information about the program, please contact us.

Here’s a great article written about Brad and his swearing in ceremony.

https://www.knoxdd.com/stories/2022/7/11/honorary-fireman-brad-porter