On Aug. 13, 13 fire departments each received $1,000 in grant funds from Gov. Kay Ivey’s office during a meeting of the Dale County Association of Fire Departments at McLin’s in Daleville.
The fire departments recognized at the dinner meeting were Skipperville, Ariton, Marley Mill, Ozark, Clayhatchee, Daleville, Level Plains, Pinckard, Newton, Napier Field, Midland City, Choctawatchee, Echo and Ewell.
The grant funds are generated by the 5-cent tobacco tax and from a portion of property taxes with an allocation from the state legislature. The funds are collected through the Alabama Forestry Association and divided equally to volunteer fire departments throughout the state through the governor’s office. While the Ozark Fire Department is not a volunteer fire department it is the recipient of funds from the tobacco tax.
Joining the members of the fire departments at the meeting were members of the Dale County Commission and State Representatives Steve Clouse and Donnie Chasteen.
“They’re looking after the towns and the community during times of emergencies, hurricanes and tornadoes; not just because of fires,” Clouse said. “They join in with all the other departments in cases of emergency to help the people and they do it for nothing, these are volunteers.
“So, it is very important that we show our appreciation to them and help out any way we can, because it’s a financial burden to run these operations.”
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