The DeWitt County Commissioners Court approved an Economic Development Corp. agreement to help Thomaston VFD buy a $222,000 small brush truck and a 500-gallon water tank at a special meeting May 4.
The agreement, which waives the EDC application fee, will allow the volunteer fire department to take advantage of a $210,000 Texas A&M Forest Service grant that will be used to repay a promissory note to the county. Once the equipment is received from the manufacturer near year’s end, the forest service agency will inspect it and upon approval release the funds to the volunteer fire department.
“Considering the fact that DeWitt County does not directly own firefighting equipment or employ full-time firefighters, we believe the purchase of the firefighting equipment serves a public purpose, and its use will have positive economic benefits for the citizens of the county,” said Thomaston VFD Fire Chief Anna Salles in a letter to County Judge Daryl Fowler requesting the financial assistance. “Our department has provided services to the public in the form of emergency response to brush fires, structure fires and motor vehicle accidents in unincorporated section of the county since 1986.”
The county is authorized under Texas law to make such agreements for authorized fire and other emergency services for the benefit of the public to private volunteer groups, according to the order issued by the county judge’s office. EDCs exist to stimulate economic development and other beneficial growth in counties.
