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PUTNAM COUNTY RESIDENTS PASS FIRE/RESCUE LEVY
Story by Adriana Doria
Published: May 15, 2024 at 7:15 PM EDT
PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Putnam County voters passed an emergency services levy, with 67 percent of the vote in favor, in Tuesday night’s primary election. Fire officials say it has been a long time in the making.
“We are very relieved, that it passed that we can keep moving forward with giving the protection to the citizens and residents of Putnam County that they deserve,” said Richard Pullin, Fire Administrator for the Putnam County Fire Service Board.
Residents voted in favor of the emergency services levy that will provide funds for all fire crews in the county is estimated to bring in more than $1 million for fire services.
Pullin said about 70 percent of that new money will go toward bringing paid positions to the county -- the rest of the funds will be used for operational and equipment costs.
“The main purpose of this levy is that we will for the first time in Putnam County actually hire and employ Putnam County Fire Service Board firefighters that will be county employees and be able to protect the county as a whole.”
Currently, residents pay a fire fee based on the square footage of their home. Now with the new levy, residents will pay with their property taxes based on their property values. Pullin estimates that homes worth more than about $175,000 will likely end up paying more than what they currently pay.
Pullin said it’s a positive shift forward as volunteerism across the country has been on the decline.
“Many of us in the fire service have been getting more nervous that this trend is going to cost a life, and it could be the life of a resident, it could be the life of a firefighter because we do not have enough personnel and they put themselves in a bad situation to save a life. This makes us excited that we can actually get that shift to move and be what we are expected to be,” he said.
Pullin said the levy will go into effect starting in July 2025 and will be in effect for five years. Pullin said in January residents will pay half of the existing fire fee to account for six months of funds before the new levy goes into effect, then in July of 2025 the fire fee will expire.
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A message to the residents and business owners of Teays Valley from your Fire Chief John Smoot regarding the passage of the Fire/Rescue Levy.
For the latest updates regarding the Fire/Rescue Levy, please follow the Putnam County Fire Service Board and Teays Valley Fire on social media or click here.
TEAYS VALLEY COMMUNITY CONNECT
Your property. Your people. Your needs. Your pets. Your Teays Valley Fire has been working with technology partner First Due to release a new public safety program for our area. The program is called Community Connect and it allows the residents in our fire service district to share valuable life safety information with our department. Residents can provide details about their home, family, children, pets, medical or functional needs, and more, so that when First Responders are dispatched to an emergency at that residence, they have the most information possible before arriving on the scene.
One of First Due’s main priorities in building this platform is to keep those who may be more vulnerable or need more assistance in the event of an emergency as safe and cared for as possible. Giving our residents the ability to share with us their specific needs will allow us to keep Teays Valley residents much safer, but to run a successful program we need the involvement and engagement of all residents and families. This is where we need your help.
We are hoping you can first, create your own Household Life Safety Profile on Community Connect which you can access here. And second, help us spread the word by sharing this information with your family members, friends, and neighbors. We have included a flyer (below) that explains what Community Connect is, what type of information to provide, the security and privacy of the platform, and how to navigate to the page to sign-up; just click here to access the flyer or click the photo of the flyer below to access the printable PDF version.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns or need further information. This is an incredible program for our community, and we appreciate your partnership and work in spreading the word.
Thank you for your involvement and assistance with this initiative and for your continued support of our department. We are looking forward to a safer community in Teays Valley.
One of First Due’s main priorities in building this platform is to keep those who may be more vulnerable or need more assistance in the event of an emergency as safe and cared for as possible. Giving our residents the ability to share with us their specific needs will allow us to keep Teays Valley residents much safer, but to run a successful program we need the involvement and engagement of all residents and families. This is where we need your help.
We are hoping you can first, create your own Household Life Safety Profile on Community Connect which you can access here. And second, help us spread the word by sharing this information with your family members, friends, and neighbors. We have included a flyer (below) that explains what Community Connect is, what type of information to provide, the security and privacy of the platform, and how to navigate to the page to sign-up; just click here to access the flyer or click the photo of the flyer below to access the printable PDF version.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns or need further information. This is an incredible program for our community, and we appreciate your partnership and work in spreading the word.
Thank you for your involvement and assistance with this initiative and for your continued support of our department. We are looking forward to a safer community in Teays Valley.
Teays Valley Community Connect Flyer for Residents (click for printable .pdf)
KNOX RAPID ACCESS PROGRAM
During an emergency, which includes everything from fires to medical aid, hazardous conditions to false alarms, first responders may be required to use forced entry to gain access into a building, which has the potential for property damage and injury. That’s why local fire departments across the country, including Teays Valley Fire, are part of the Knox Box Program.
What is it? A Knox Box is a secure and mounted device that can hold keys and access cards for use by a Fire Department during after-hours emergency calls for service. Key boxes allow businesses to prevent or reduce damage to their structure by Fire Department personnel during calls for service and provide a means for Fire Department personnel to access secure areas quickly. Key boxes are only accessible by Fire Department personnel, not by police or other first responders.
Installation of a Knox Box on your property will not only allow firefighters faster access in case of an emergency, but will also prevent expensive damage to your building should an emergency occur. Costly doors and windows will not be damaged if entry keys are available on-site. These are available for commercial and residential buildings.
Click here to learn how to buy and see Knox Box options for the Teays Valley Fire District.
𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘴.
𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: Some public safety agencies require pre-authorization of your orders prior to the sale.
What is it? A Knox Box is a secure and mounted device that can hold keys and access cards for use by a Fire Department during after-hours emergency calls for service. Key boxes allow businesses to prevent or reduce damage to their structure by Fire Department personnel during calls for service and provide a means for Fire Department personnel to access secure areas quickly. Key boxes are only accessible by Fire Department personnel, not by police or other first responders.
Installation of a Knox Box on your property will not only allow firefighters faster access in case of an emergency, but will also prevent expensive damage to your building should an emergency occur. Costly doors and windows will not be damaged if entry keys are available on-site. These are available for commercial and residential buildings.
Click here to learn how to buy and see Knox Box options for the Teays Valley Fire District.
𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘴.
𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: Some public safety agencies require pre-authorization of your orders prior to the sale.
Teays Valley Knox Box -- Knox Rapid Access Program for Commercial Businesses (click for printable .pdf)
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Physical Address: 62 Scott Depot Rd
Hurricane, WV 25526
Mailing: P.O Box 57
Scott Depot WV 25560
Office: (304) 757-7075
Fax: (304) 757-7717
[email protected]
https://linktr.ee/teaysvalleyfire
Hurricane, WV 25526
Mailing: P.O Box 57
Scott Depot WV 25560
Office: (304) 757-7075
Fax: (304) 757-7717
[email protected]
https://linktr.ee/teaysvalleyfire
Updated: 03/26/2023 Parliament Marketing Group