CLANCY, Mont. — The Clancy Volunteer Fire Department is asking the community to support a fee increase as it works to keep up with local growth and maintain service.
Department leaders said the proposal would raise the fire service fee by $10 per house each month, moving the annual cost from $145 to $265 per home. They said the added money would help sustain operations and pay for an expansion to the current facility.
Chief Kevin Harris said the department believed the change is needed as Clancy continued to grow.
“We’re already kind of behind the eight ball of trying to keep up with the growth. If we don’t do something now, it might be unattainable or unreachable in the future if we don’t do something,” said Harris.
The department said the increase would secure financing to build the expansion right away while spreading the cost out over time.
“This fee increase will help us to hopefully expand a building that’s much needed and it will also help save for the future to help upgrade vehicles and keep equipment up to date,” said Harris.
Captain Dan Richter said the department also faces ongoing challenges with volunteer recruitment. He said updated equipment and a modern station could help attract new members.
“Recruiting has always been an issue in volunteer departments. It doesn’t matter what department you are in. Having more equipment, more modern equipment will definitely help in recruiting new members,” said Richter.
The Montana State Volunteer Firefighters Association reported that low recruiting numbers are affecting volunteer departments across Montana. The group also said mutual aid between nearby departments has become an important tool.
“A lot of us are pretty close by so all of our different departments help other towns. We never used to do that. Everybody had their own fire. But you’re seeing a lot more mutual aid and that’s been kind of the key. Well that’s what we have to do,” said Kevin Moritz, president of the Montana State Volunteer Firefighters Association.
Richter said support for the increase has been favorable in the Clancy community.
The next step is for the proposal to go before the Clancy Volunteer Fire Department Board of Trustees and the Jefferson County Commission.
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