| Bloxom new fire chief in Obion |
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Posted: Thursday, August 9, 2012 9:03 pm
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By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
Donald Bloxom Jr. is the new fire chief in Obion. He has been approved for the position by the Obion City Council and replaces former fire chief Jamie Evans, who unexpectedly resigned a few weeks ago.
Evans’ resignation followed a heated city council meeting in which he was at odds with members of the council over his rural fire protection plan.
“I’m just going to do what I can do with what I’ve got to work with,” Bloxom told The Messenger Wednesday afternoon.
He met with the council earlier this week and outlined his proposed membership program for rural fire protection.
The council will formally consider his plan when it meets at 7 p.m. Aug. 20.
Bloxom’s plan is being drafted in the form of an ordinance, which will require two separate votes before it’s approved.
He told The Messenger he hopes to have the plan in place by Oct. 1, when the fire department begins its membership drive.
Bloxom has been a volunteer firefighter with the Obion Volunteer Fire Department since 1988 and even served as a captain for several years. He works full-time for CN Railroad out of Memphis.
Under his rural fire membership plan, the Obion Volunteer Fire Department will offer residents in the town’s rural fire district the option of paying $75 a year for fire protection. Obion’s rural fire district covers about 79 square miles.
His plan is very similar to the rural fire protection plan in place in Hornbeak and Samburg.
Rural subscribers who have paid their annual fee will get their first fire call at no charge and there will be a $500 fee (per response) billed for subsequent fire calls.
The fire department will respond to all rural fire calls, even to those who have not paid the membership fee, but the cost per fire call will be a minimum of $2,000.
Bloxom’s rural fire plan settles the controversial issue of whether the Obion Volunteer Fire Department will respond to field fires, vehicle fires and fires in the Cat Corner community. Under Bloxom’s plan, the fire department will respond to all field and vehicle fires and will respond to fires in the Cat Corner community.
A city official told The Messenger Wednesday afternoon there about 335 potential subscribers in Obion’s rural fire district.
Published in The Messenger 8.9.12 |
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