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MURFREESBORO – While the vote of approval was unanimous on Oct. 15, Murfreesboro leaders expressed some disappointment with the new funding contract between rural fire departments and Hertford County.

According to estimates, Murfreesboro’s Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) could potentially lose up to $2,000 under the new contract thanks to the repetitive call clause.

As previously reported by the News Herald, Hertford County renews its contract with the eight rural fire departments in the county every three years for calls they make in their district but are outside their town limits. Each department will receive financial assistance of $40,817.75, as they have in the past.

But the new contract also made changes to the “per call” funding, increasing it from $250 to $300 per each call answered within fire department’s assigned portion of the county, and reducing the amount departments will get paid for repetitive calls to the same tax parcel.

They will get $300 for the first three calls (per quarter) to the same tax parcel, but any subsequent calls (per quarter) will be paid at a rate of $100 per call.

Members of Murfreesboro VFD noted that they frequently respond to calls at Chowan University’s White’s Crossing, a cluster of student-occupied apartments located just outside of the town limits.

There are multiple buildings at the site, but all are included in the same tax parcel.

On Oct. 4, the Murfreesboro Town Council held a special called meeting to discuss the new contract. The council did not take any vote during the meeting, but proposed that the per call funding for repetitive calls should be changed from “per tax parcel” to “per address.”

Town Attorney Cecelia Jones confirmed she sent that proposal to Hertford County’s Board Attorney for consideration.

The Hertford County Commissioners, however, approved the new contract on Oct. 7, retaining the “per tax parcel” stipulation. Following that approval, the contract was sent to all the rural VFDs for their approval.

Murfreesboro’s Town Council included the contract on their agenda during their regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

VFD Chief Harrison Revelle was unable to attend the meeting, but Assistant Chief Brad Morris said the repetitive call clause meant that the department could lose an estimated $1,500-$2,000 under the new contract.

“But it’s variable because we don’t know how many calls we’ll have,” he noted.

He also pointed out that all of the other departments in the county will gain under the new contract, thanks to the per call increase.

Mayor Hal Thomas asked Attorney Jones if she recommended signing the contract.

“I believe this was a move in the right direction, and I believe it is wise to accept it,” she replied. “However, I’m very aware and sympathetic to the struggles that you guys [Murfreesboro VFD] deal with. And I think that it’s time to have a conversation with Chowan.”

Morris said he agreed.

“I do believe they need to change it to the address,” Thomas reiterated, but added, “It’s not going to make anybody happy, but it would make most of us less unhappy.”

Council member Mike Bunch motioned to approve the contract, but also expressed his agreement with the suggestion to have a discussion with Chowan University. Jay Revelle seconded.

The vote was unanimously in favor by those in attendance. Council member James Byerly was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.