White roses were placed at the nameplate of the late County Councilman Ed McDaniel at last night’s Laurens County Council Meeting. During the public comment period, former County Council Chairman Jim Coleman spoke of his many years working with McDaniel and of the fond memories they shared. During the council comment times, each current Council member also spoke of special moments they shared with McDaniel. Coleman also spoke in the Public Hearing prior to final vote for Ordinance 782, which authorizes funding for fire station construction and repair.
About twenty years ago Councilman Ed McDaniel led a move by County Council to provide financial support for rural fire departments, along with a Fire Coordinator to support training and other improvements for the county’s fire departments. The result was less need for constant fund raising and a lowering of insurance costs through better ISO ratings. Last night, Council gave final reading to County Ordinance 782, which funds repairs on some rural fire stations and construction of 3 to 4 more to fill in gaps in coverage to areas too far from existing fire stations to get insurance credit for fire coverage. The Ordinance provides for the sale of a General Obligation Bonds of up to $2,450,000.
Council approved the ordinance by a 4 to 2 vote, with Councilmen David Pitts and Stuart Jones in opposition. Jones said “I support the renovation and the building of the new stations, but I am curious of the operating costs to run the new stations.” David Puts said “I believe we will be faced with recurring expenses if this goes through,” as Pitts agreed with Jones regarding concern of the maintenance costs of the new stations. Addressing that subject, Council Chairman Joe Wood said “It would be foolish to think that we will have enough money for this without raising taxes, but the reduction of ISO Ratings and lower insurance rates for our residents will be a good return with our money.”