The Greene County Budget and Finance Committee heard from Sheriff Wesley Holt during their meeting Wednesday morning, regarding an update from the Association of Volunteer Fire Departments.
Holt is treasurer of the association, which receives funds from the county to cover the VFD’s insurance costs. Funds allocated from the wheel tax are also distributed between the fire departments in Greene County. The association was advised to mail a certified letter to two fire departments that were non-compliant, stating if they were still not in compliance after 90 days, the insurance would be terminated and there would be a suspension on the funds they receive.
Sheriff Holt told the committee one department has complied but the other has not and there were still deficiencies in their recent audit. According to Holt, financial statements from the Cedar Creek Volunteer Fire Department were reviewed. Findings revealed there were no receipts for checks that were written, the ATM was used to make cash withdrawals and there were no receipts on what the money was used for. Holt said he found it unusual that all the fire department bills were sent to the chief’s home, rather than the fire department.
He continued on his synopsis of the financial statements reviewed, which spanned from last year to the first six months of 2024. Many deposits did not include slips/descriptions on where donations came from. Several receipts were also questionable from places like PayPal, Wendy’s, and ABC’s Family Dentistry.
The Treasurer of Cedar Creek stated they used the fire department’s credit card inadvertently. Holt said those transactions were paid back. However, those were just a few of the findings shared. A transaction in 2023 for a promotion ad to Asbury Church was also questioned. During that period, Cedar Creek VFD had a different treasurer, who is reportedly related to the current treasurer. Holt said the transaction in 2023 was also paid back to the fire department.
After a discussion between Sheriff Holt, Budget and Finance Committee members, and County Mayor Kevin Morrison, it was determined the department was barely providing the services needed in the community. Membership being down at the department could have had an impact. The fire department will need to work on getting a clean audit on their finances and bringing their ISO rating from a 10 to a 9. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) rates fire departments on their performance and services on a scale from 1-10, with 1 being the best. The lower the rating the better the service.
Holt was advised the association should withhold funds from the department until the requirements are met. No funds will be allocated or backdated. The community will still receive services from neighboring fire departments like South Greene and Saint James. Both reportedly have a good ISO rating.
