Wednesday, April 12, 2000 
Roanoke County weighs idea of charging for services
Fire, rescue squads call for assistance 
Tax dollars only go so far, but volunteer crews are dead set against user fees. 
By C.S. MURPHY 
THE ROANOKE TIMES 
   Roanoke County's volunteer fire and rescue crews asked the county Tuesday for an extra $633,250 to add 10 career fire and rescue staffers to the Back Creek and Mount Pleasant stations and to replace outdated radios. 
    These same volunteers are dead set against charging for rescue services, a revenue source many other Virginia localities are turning to. As tax dollars are stretched thin, county officials are hunting for a way to supplement the historically all-volunteer squads with paid workers. 
    "We're stretching like a rubber band, as far as we can stretch 'em," said Leroy Bibbs, chairman of the county's volunteer rescue chiefs board. 
    Bibb said asking for the money is hard for the volunteer crews, who are known for their fund-raising ability and independent spirit. The first rescue squad in the world was formed here in 1928. 
    "It's the only option that we have," Bibbs said. 
    Woody Henderson, chairman of the county's volunteer fire chiefs board, said the county's 11 stations have $358,400 in building and maintenance needs, with only $62,000 currently budgeted. 
    Fire and Rescue Chief Rick Burch said the department needs to replace two pumper trucks and two ladder trucks, which would cost $2 million. He said county officials are looking into leasing the vehicles instead. 
    A majority on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors do not support charging residents for ambulance service provided by unpaid crews. Supervisors Bob Johnson of Hollins and Butch Church of Catawba, and board Chairman Joe McNamara of Windsor Hills, have said they would support charging for services only if volunteers supported the move. Supervisor Harry Nickens of Vinton wants to implement a charge to increase staff and equipment funding for the struggling crews. 
    Roanoke County's 540 volunteer members save the county $4 million in salary expenses per year, so supervisors worry that a walkout could profoundly strain the county's budget. 
    The county already employs 67 career fire and rescue workers to supplement the volunteer force. The number of emergency calls increases every year, and capital needs continue to mount. So volunteer leaders have been forced for several years to ask the county for additional funds. Charging patients for ambulance rides surfaces repeatedly during the county's budget process. 
    Volunteers have been vocal in their objections to the change. 
    "Even though we do argue," Bibbs said, "we are still friends when we walk away from the table." 
    County supervisors made no promises Tuesday, but said they'd consider the request as they craft the 2000-01 budget. 
    "Please try to realize where we are and realize we're going to do the best we can for you," Church said. 
    Nickens, however, believes fire and rescue services should be a higher priority in the county's budget. He said he was pleased, however, that county officials were able to fund six additional fire and rescue staffers in last year's budget. 
    "We're not doing the best we can," he said. "I think last year was a good year for fire and rescue, but we could do better." 
    Roanoke County Administrator Elmer Hodge said Tuesday the issue of charging for ambulance service has been put back on the shelf for the time being. He promised the volunteers who attended the work session there would be no surprises and that they would be included in future fee discussions. 
    Hodge repeatedly has conveyed his concern that underfunding the rescue squads could put some county residents in danger. 
    Hodge said that on a recent Sunday, two ambulance calls went out and three county stations were called on to respond, but because of low staffing, a city crew ended up taking the patients to the hospital. 
    "This was a serious situation," Hodge said, addressing the supervisors. "There were two of them on the same day. ... It could have been one of your family members. That's something we have to work on." 
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